RICHMOND, VA—Marcus D. Bennett, 31, of Henrico County, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to charges of robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of that robbery.

According to court documents, on Jan. 9, 2015, Bennett entered a McDonald’s restaurant located in Henrico, Virginia, while armed with a revolver. Once inside, Bennett approached the shift manager, and while brandishing the firearm, ordered the manager to open the safe and hand over the money. After getting the money, Bennett went to the cashier who was working the drive through window, and demanded money from the register.

In entering his plea today before Magistrate Judge David J. Novak, Bennett admitted in the signed statement of facts that he had committed three additional armed robberies, to include a second McDonald’s restaurant in Henrico, and two subway restaurants, one in Henrico and the other in Richmond.

Bennett was arrested in May 2015 after an investigation was conducted by officers and detectives with the Henrico and Richmond Police Departments in conjunction with the FBI’s Central Virginia Violent Crime Task Force.

Bennett faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for the robbery, and a maximum of life in prison for brandishing the firearm when he is sentenced on Nov. 13, 2015. Bennett faces additional time in prison because he was on federal supervised release when he committed this series of robberies. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Douglas A. Middleton, Chief of Henrico County Police Division; and Ray J. Tarasovic, Chief of City of Richmond Police Department, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Senior District Judge James R. Spencer.

This case was investigated by the FBI, members of the Henrico County Police Department, and members of the Richmond Police department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:15-cr-134.