Philadelphia Man Charged with Armed Robbery

PHILADELPHIA—United States Attorney Zane David Memeger today announced the filing of an Indictment against Kwame Thomas charging that Thomas robbed Smitty’s Mill Creek Bar located on North 52nd Street in Philadelphia on June 17, 2009, and conspired to rob and robbed Nikel’s Lounge located on North 59th Street in Philadelphia on August 8, 2009, and the Wine & Spirits Store located at 5101 Lancaster Avenue, in Philadelphia, on August 25, 2009.

According to the Indictment, Thomas threatened the bartenders and patrons at Smitty’s Mill Creek Bar and Nikel’s Lounge and the employees of the Wine & Spirits Store at gunpoint and robbed them of approximately $1,760, a firearm, and other things of value in their possession. If convicted of the offenses, Thomas faces a total maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of 57 years’ imprisonment, a $1,750,000 fine, five years’ supervised release, and a $700 special assessment.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEFENDANT
NAME: Kwame Thomas
ADDRESS: Philadelphia, PA
AGE OR DATE OF BIRTH: 20 years old

This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative designed to identify and prosecute firearms offenders in federal court, where the defendant is likely to receive a substantial sentence upon conviction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.