Three Men Sentenced For String Of Convenience Store Armed Robberies

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Three Las Vegas men were sentenced today to a total of 40 years in prison for their involvement in a string of convenience store armed robberies during the summer of 2014, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Kevin Hall, 29, Justin Loper, 29, and Keith Williams, 26, were sentenced to 154 months, 184 months, and 147 months, respectively. Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; three counts of interference with commerce by robbery; and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. United States District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the sentencing hearings.

According to their individual plea agreements, on June 15, 2014, Hall, Loper, and Williams robbed a 7-Eleven at 30 West Wyoming Ave. in Las Vegas. Loper pointed a handgun at the store clerk and demanded money from the register and the safe. The defendants stole approximately $446.34 and the clerk’s cellular telephone. Then on July 13, 2014, the defendants robbed a Circle K at 5400 Vegas Drive. Loper pointed a handgun at the clerk and told the clerk to open the register. The defendants stole approximately $750. Later that morning, the defendants entered a Mini Mart at 3342 South Sandhill Road and ordered everyone in the store to get on the ground. Loper and Hall jumped the counter while Williams stayed in the front of the store watching the customers. The defendants stole a total of approximately $6,000 from the register and the safe.

After the Mini Mart armed robbery, the defendants fled in a vehicle. After a brief pursuit by law enforcement the defendants’ vehicle crashed. The defendants fled on foot and were arrested near the crash site. Approximately $6,000 in cash was found near one of the defendants. During a subsequent search of the car, investigators found a loaded .40 caliber pistol, Circle K plastic bags filled with cigarettes, three pairs of black cotton gloves, a black ski-mask, and baseball hats, all consistent with items taken in the robberies and clothing items used in the robberies. At the time of their arrests all defendants were wearing the same clothing worn by the robbers as observed in video surveillance.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the North Las Vegas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Michael.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment by the Department of Justice to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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