Press Release
MARTIN COUNTY GROUP ARRESTED FOR COMMITTING SERIES OF ARMED ROBBERIES
March 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Joyce Dawley, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Orlando Regional Office, Edward M. Morley, Chief, Stuart Police Department, William McCollom, Chief, Tequesta Police Department, Frank J. Kitzerow, Chief, Jupiter Police Department, Donald L. Shinnamon, Sr., Chief, Port St. Lucie Police Department, R. Sean Baldwin, Chief, Fort Pierce Police Department, Ken J. Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and Robert L. Crowder, Sheriff, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, announced the filing of two federal criminal complaints charging defendants Michael Shane Ragland, Deshawn K. James, Aaron A. Taylor, Dewayne Bernard Mitchell, Jr., Matthew Joseph Anderson, and Eliza Ramsdell with unlawfully affecting interstate commerce by threats or violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924©. James, Taylor, Anderson and Ramsdell made their initial appearances in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida today. A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2009.
On March 16, 2009, a year-long multi-agency investigation, spearheaded by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Stuart Police Department (SPD), resulted in the arrest of six members of an armed robbery group based in the Hobe Sound area of Martin County. The six arrested were responsible for ten (10) armed robberies of convenience stores located from Jupiter to Fort Pierce, Florida.
According to the criminal complaints, the robberies took place between December 11, 2007 and February 22, 2008. Through the use of police reports, surveillance videos, and witness interviews, investigators developed evidence against the six defendants charged today.
The following is a list of robberies allegedly committed by the defendants:
• On December 11, 2007, at approximately 9:10 p.m., armed robbery at the Right Way Foods, located at 1880 SE Palm Beach Road, Stuart, Florida.
• On December 14, 2007, at approximately 3:07 p.m., armed robbery at the Island Beverage, located at 9128 SE Bridge Road, Hobe Sound, Florida.
• On January 12, 2008, at approximately 9:46 p.m., armed robbery at the Shell Gas Station, located at 1308 SE Federal Highway, Stuart, Florida.
• On January 27, 2008, at approximately 10:02 p.m., armed robbery at the Texaco Gas Station, located at 11010 SE Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, Florida.
• On January 29, 2008, at approximately 9:13 p.m., armed robbery at the Palm City Auto Lube, located at 3584 SW Armellini Avenue, Palm City, Florida.
• On February 2, 2008, at approximately 10:43 p.m., armed robbery at the A & M Discount Beverage, located at 200 S Whitney Drive, Jupiter, Florida.
• On February 3, 2008, at approximately 9:30 p.m., armed robbery at the BP Gas Station, located at 2802 S US Highway 1, Fort Pierce, Florida.
• On February 18, 2008, at approximately 10:04 p.m., armed robbery at the Stop & Shop Food Store, located at 391 Seabrook Road, Tequesta, Florida.
• On February 20, 2008, at approximately 11:54 p.m., armed robbery at the Shell Gas Station, located at 2799 N US Highway 1, Fort Pierce, Florida.
• On February 22, 2008, at approximately 1:34 a.m., armed robbery at the Chevron Gas Station, located at 1780 SW Saint Lucie West Boulevard, Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Stuart Police Department (SPD), Tequesta Police Department (TPD), Jupiter Police Department (JPD), Port Saint Lucie Police Department (PSLPD), Fort Pierce Police Department (FPPD), Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (SLCSO), Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rinku Talwar.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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