Alabama Man Sentenced to 111 Months in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Chief United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Lamarion Demetrius Alston on December 15, 2020, to serve a term of imprisonment of 111 months followed by 8 years of supervised release for Armed Robbery of a business (Hobbs Act robbery). The Court accepted the defendant’s guilty plea on September 14, 2020. 

Court records established that on April 18, 2019, Alston, while brandishing a firearm, robbed the Family Dollar store in Demopolis, Alabama. A responding officer observed a vehicle fleeing and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle began driving evasively. The officer saw the defendant, a passenger in the vehicle, jump out and flee on foot. Officers pursued Alston and found him attempting to hide in a dumpster at a nearby apartment complex. Alston attempted to flee the dumpster and climb a fence. Officers physically struggled with Alston but were eventually able to gain control of him and take him into custody.

Officers were also able to stop the driver of the vehicle and they recovered a cash drawer containing cash taken during the robbery and a .32-caliber revolver which was consistent with the firearm the Alston can be seen brandishing on store video of the robbery.

The offense was investigated by the Demopolis, Alabama, Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.