July 31, 2015

Convicted Felons Face Life in Federal Prison After Federal Jury Convicts Them on Hobbs Act and Firearms Offenses

DALLAS—Two men from Duncanville and Mesquite, both convicted felons, were convicted yesterday by a federal jury on an array of federal charges stemming from their armed robberies of several fast-food restaurants in the Dallas area in early 2014, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Jesse Lee Bell, 32, and Deundrae Lyndell Miller, 24, were each convicted on four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery; five counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The government presented evidence at trial that the defendants committed the following armed robberies in North Texas:

June 2, 2014 Whataburger, 501 E. Highway 67, Duncanville

June 4, 2014 Whataburger, 961 W. Beltline Rd., DeSoto

June 7, 2014 Whataburger, 3200 N. Town East Blvd., Mesquite

June 19, 2014 Jack-In-The-Box, 1020 W. Davis, Dallas

June 24, 2014 Whataburger, 2943 N. Galloway Avenue, Mesquite

In addition, the government presented evidence that the defendants, both convicted felons, each possessed a firearm on June 24, 2014.

Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each robbery conviction. Each of the firearm offenses carries a maximum statutory penalty of life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The felon in possession count carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Duncanville, DeSoto, Mesquite and Dallas Police Departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Wirmani and John Kull are prosecuting the case.