Two Men Sentenced to at least 14 Years in Prison for Cell Phone Store Robberies

Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on September 24, 2021, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Maurice Tolbert (age 43, of Milwaukee) to 15 years and ten months in prison after Mr. Tolbert pled guilty to his involvement in four cell phone store robberies and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. 

Judge Stadtmueller previously sentenced Mr. Tolbert’s co-defendant and cousin, Richard Tolbert (age 38, of Chicago) to 14 years in prison after he pled guilty to his involvement in three of the cell phone store robberies and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  Each defendant faced a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years in prison for the use of firearms during crimes of violence. 

The evidence reflected that Maurice and Richard Tolbert entered the cell phone stores and brandished firearms to steal cell phones and other electronic devices.  On some occasions, they ordered the employees into the back rooms, where on at least one occasion they bound the employees’ wrists and ankles.  The evidence further reflects that the firearms used during the robberies were purchased by Maurice Tolbert’s girlfriend, Angel Price, who was convicted in this case of providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and sentenced to 24 months of probation. 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Milwaukee Police Department, the West Allis Police Department, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office Investigators, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret B. Honrath

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For further information contact: Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

(414) 297-1700

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