Six Indicted for Carjacking and Series of Armed Robberies in Albemarle and Greene Counties

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville has indicted six individuals on charges related to a series of violent armed robberies and a carjacking that occurred in Albemarle and Greene counties in recent months, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced.

In an indictment returned last week, the grand jury has charged Terence Tyree, a.k.a. “TJ,” 19, of Ruckersville, Virginia, in counts one and three through seven. Kentarian Jones, a.k.a. “Kentavia,” 19, of Earlysville, Virginia, is charged in counts one and four through seven. Demetrius Steppe, 20, of Ruckersville, is charged in counts one through three. Jacquarius Johnson, a.k.a. “Corey,” 18, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged in counts six and seven. Isaiah Wilson, 24, of Charlottesville, is charged in Count two and Chelsea Elizabeth Scott, 24, of Ruckersville, is charged in count four.

All six defendants had their initial court appearances in United States District Court in Charlottesville today and have been held, without bond, pending trial, which has been preliminarily set for December 12, 2016.

According to the indictment, the six individuals are charged with participating in a series of armed robberies of businesses and individuals in Albemarle and Greene counties. Three of these individuals are charged in a violent home invasion, abduction and armed carjacking in Albemarle County.

The indictment charges that on June 9, 2016, Tyree and Jones committed an armed robbery that occurred at the Papa John’s in Greene County, Virginia. Tyree and Steppe are also charged with committing an armed robbery of the same Papa John’s on June 17, 2016.

The indictment further charges that on June 12, 2016, Wilson and Steppe committed an armed robbery of the 7-11 in Albemarle County. Tyree, Jones and Johnson are also charged with committing an armed robbery of this same 7-11 location on July 18, 2016.

The indictment further charges that on June 27, 2016, Tyree, Jones and Scott committed an armed robbery of Domino’s Pizza located in Albemarle County.

The indictment further charges that Tyree and Jones committed an armed robbery of the Domino’s Pizza in Greene County on July 7, 2016.

Finally, the indictment charges that on July 18, 2016, Tyree, Jones and Johnson committed an armed carjacking of Victim A by using force and intimidation, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Albemarle County Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald M. Huber and Christopher Kavanaugh will prosecute the case for the United States.

A Grand Jury Indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.