MEMPHIS, TN—Two convicted felons responsible for robbing a Dollar General in Whitehaven have been collectively sentenced to 260 months in prison.

According to facts presented in court, on the evening of November 9, 2013, Johnnie Trenell, 31, and Maurice Harris, 22, entered the Dollar General located at 3909 Elvis Presley Blvd. armed with a Taurus 9mm pistol. Trenell jumped the counter and pointed the silver and black firearm at the cashier and demanded that the employee get on the floor. While Trenell occupied the cashier, Harris demanded another Dollar General employee to open the safe. Unable to do so, the second employee was then ordered to open the cash registers, remove the money in them and place it in a Dollar General bag.

After receiving a robbery in progress call at the Dollar General, Memphis Police Department officers arrived on the scene, according to court statements. Trenell and Harris fled to the back of the store after realizing law enforcement officers were outside the establishment. Shortly after entering the store, officers arrested both defendants and recovered the 9mm pistol they used, as well as $619 in a Dollar General bag. Officers were able to locate Harris’ vehicle, and recovered Harris’ fingerprints from items on the counter. One of the robbery victims also identified Trenell as the gunman.

On May 19th, District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Harris to 120 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Harris pled guilty to the Hobbs Act, a law that makes it a federal crime to commit a robbery that interferes with interstate commerce. Harris also pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Today, Trenell was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release by Judge Anderson. He also pled guilty to the Hobbs Act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Memphis Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Coleman prosecuted the case on the government’s behalf.