Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery

Memphis, TN – A Memphis man has pleaded guilty to armed robbery. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

According to information presented in court, on August 18, 2016, officers with the Memphis Police Department, responded to a robbery of a Dunbar Armored courier at 2424 Summer Avenue. James Edward Lacey, Jr. pepper-sprayed and robbed the Dunbar Armored courier, taking $118,942. The courier was in the process of placing the United States currency into the truck, when Lacey approached and pepper-sprayed him.

The driver of the Dunbar Armored truck, saw the unknown subject taking the currency and fired one shot, hitting the subject on the right side of his body. After being shot, Lacey fled on foot with the Dunbar courier bag containing the money, and got into the passenger side of a black Jeep Liberty, and fled the area. Blood found at the scene and a DNA analysis by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) revealed Lacey’s blood.

On August 24, 2016, a Memphis Crime Stoppers tip, was received with specific information and details alleging the crime was committed by Lacey

Prior to the robbery, on August 13, 2016, Lacey was arrested for being a felon in possession of a Kel-Tec 9mm pistol. His criminal history dates back to 2008.

For the two counts, Lacey faces up to 30 year’s in prison and a $500,000 fine. Sentencing is set for May 12, 2017, before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Whitmore is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.