Grape Street Crip Gang Member Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Firearm during Robberies

Memphis, TN - A Memphis man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm during robberies. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on December 9, 2016, three men armed with handguns and a shotgun entered Village Mart located at 1169 S. Bellevue. The employees were held at gunpoint after being ordered to the ground by one of the males. The males smashed display cases and took merchandise and cash from the register. One of the suspects jumped on a glass counter causing a cut to his right hand, leaving his DNA. The DNA belonged to James Moss, a member of the Grape Street Crip gang. The robbers fled the scene in a Nissan Maxima that was stolen by Moss and the robbery crew earlier in the day.

On December 30, 2016, two men armed with handguns entered Dollar General located at 3433 Jackson, in Memphis. The men forced the clerk to open the cash register and the safe. The suspects took the cash drawers from the store. A tracking device attached to the stolen cash led law enforcement to Moss’ residence.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "As part of our violent crime reduction strategy, we are taking the fight to the gangs to dismantle their organizations and remove them from our communities. Violent crimes committed by and in furtherance of gangs will be met with severe consequences, and this sentence shows our resolve."

On October 3, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Moss to 25 years in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release.

Lavunte Evans, a co-defendant to the Village Mart robbery was previously sentenced to 125 months.

This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and theMulti Agency Gang Unit.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marques Young prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.