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Press Release

Man Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison For Armed Robbery Of Belleville Liquor Store

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Illinois

Case is one of many brought as a result of the United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton’s Metro-East Armed Robbery Initiative

Roderick Taylor, 23, was sentenced to just over 9 years in prison today on a three-count indictment charging him with Conspiracy to Commit Interference with Commerce by Robbery, Interference with Commerce by Robbery, and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced. The Armed Robbery count arises from the federal Hobbs Act, which makes it a crime to obstruct, delay or affect interstate commerce by robbery, and is used by United States Attorney Wigginton as a way to combat armed robbery in the Southern District of Illinois. Following his prison sentence, Taylor will be on federal supervised release for 5 years. Taylor was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000. Taylor has been in custody since his arrest on July 12, 2013.

Documents filed in US District Court establish that on July 12, 2013 Taylor went with his two co-defendants, Timothy Collier and Charmonequette Reynolds, to Arena Liquor located at 105 S. Belt E, Belleville, Illinois with the plan to commit a robbery. While Reynolds waited in the car, Taylor and Collier entered Arena Liquor both armed with a firearm. Collier and Taylor pointed the two firearms at the two individuals working in the store and demanded money from the cash registers as well as personal belongings from the victims. Taylor and Collier left the liquor store with a large sum of United States currency and a cell phone belonging to one of the victims. They returned to the getaway vehicle and the three fled from the scene. A witness driving near Arena Liquor noticed Collier and Taylor running from the store and followed them as they ran several blocks to the getaway vehicle. The witness recorded the license plates of Reynolds’ vehicle and gave the number to Belleville Police officers. Reynolds and Taylor were apprehended within hours of the robbery. During a recorded interview with law enforcement, Taylor admitted his involvement in the planning and participation in the armed robbery of Arena Liquor and identified Collier and Reynolds as the other two individuals involved.

This case was investigated by the Belleville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.

Updated February 19, 2015