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Press Release

Brother and Sister Posing as Couple Sentenced in Robbery of Mobile Area Walmart

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Alabama

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that United States District Court Chief Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced John Spinner and Valeria Brown on August 3, 2018 to a term of 10 years in federal prison each for armed robbery. Both Brown and Spinner entered a plea of guilty on April 24, 2018.

On October 10, 2016, four individuals, armed with handguns, robbed the Walmart at 2500 Dawes Road in Mobile, Alabama.  Two suspects held victims at gunpoint at the self-checkout register while they stole the day’s deposit bags.   

John Spinner and his sister, Valeria Brown, posed as a couple with Brown’s infant child, and served as lookouts for the other two robbers.  Brown and Spinner communicated with their accomplices via cell phone, informing them when it was clear for them to enter the Walmart and commence with the robbery. 

Brown and Spinner waited outside for the others, and all four fled the scene after the robbery.  Brown and Spinner followed their accomplices in another vehicle and Spinner shot at citizens in order to assist their conspirators’ escape. 

Both Brown and Spinner were ordered to pay $13,154.00 in restitution and will have to serve 3 years supervised release upon their release from prison.

Lawrence Battiste, Chief of Police of the Mobile Police Department commented on matter, saying, “The City of Mobile and the Mobile Police Department are thankful for the partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  We are grateful for their assistance in (the) prosecution of these offenders.  We look forward to an ongoing effort to remove those offenders in our community that seek to commit crimes that diminish the quality of life in Mobile.”

The Mobile Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mobile Field office investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baugh prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

Updated August 10, 2018