Three Charged in Armed Robberies of Virginia Peninsula Businesses

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Michael J. Tucker, 19, of Toledo, Ohio; Lindsay N. George, 31, of Hampton, Virginia; and April Jones, 19 of Newport News, Virginia, were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 14, 2012. All three were charged for their participation in three separate armed robberies, while Tucker and George were also charged with using or possessing firearms during two of those robberies.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the indictment was returned. According to the indictment, over the course of two days in January 2012, Tucker, George, and Jones committed three armed robberies of businesses located on the Virginia peninsula. The first occurred at the Happy Shopper convenience store located on North King Street in Hampton, the second at the One Stop Food Mart convenience store located on J. Clyde Morris Boulevard in Newport News, and the third at the Hardee’s Restaurant located on S. Mallory Street in Hampton. Tucker and George are charged with the possession and brandishing of firearms during the Food Mart and Hardee’s robberies.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Hampton Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Bradley D. Price is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.