Four Cleveland Men Indicted in Federal Court for Armed Robberies

Four Cleveland men were indicted on charges of conspiracy, robbery affecting interstate commerce, and using firearms to commit crimes of violence for their roles in at least eight armed robberies in 2011, law enforcement officials announced today.

Charged are: Antwan Williams, age 25; Jervond Robinson, age 24; Antwan Bolek, age 22; and Dakota Wright, age 25, all of Cleveland.

All the robberies occurred in Cleveland. The locations the men are accused of robbing include: Popeye’s Chicken, 7020 Carnegie Ave.; Famous Gyro George, 7325 Euclid Ave.; Shop Rite, 2131 East 79th Street; Gypsy Beans and Bakery, 6425 Detroit Ave.; Rite Aid Pharmacy, 6512 Franklin Ave.; Burger King, 6170 Denison Ave.; Little Caesar’s Pizza, 6727 Denison Ave., and Convenient Foodmart, 7205 Lorain Ave.

“These defendants sowed fear and interrupted business on both the east and west sides of town,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“These violent individuals targeted local business where Clevelanders were merely going about their normal activities of eating out and shopping,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Office. “The FBI and the Violent Crimes Task Force is committed to ensuring that such perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath added, “As a result of local, state, and federal law enforcement working together, four violent fugitives were brought to justice. The arrests of these individuals will make our streets and neighborhoods safer and send a message to lawbreakers that if you commit a crime, we will come after you.”

Prosecutor Mason said, “For the past three years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and my office have coordinated to prosecute the pattern robbery cases that occur inside our county. When we work together, we can effectively shut down these criminals.”

The indictment charges Williams with armed robberies at Popeye’s Chicken and Famous Gyro George in the summer of 2011.

The indictment charges Williams, Robinson, and Wright with an armed robbery at a Shop Rite store on October 14, 2011.

The indictment also alleges that Robinson, Bolek, and Williams engaged in a conspiracy to commit several robberies on November 11-12, 2011, including armed robberies at the Gypsy Beans and Bakery, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Burger King, Little Caesar’s Pizza, and Convenient Foodmart.

The indictment results from an investigation conducted by the Cleveland Cuyahoga Violent Crimes Task Force, in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cleveland Division of Police (2nd and 3rd Districts), and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cleveland Cuyahoga Violent Crimes Task Force targets violent crime through a partnership of the United States Attorney’s Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Division of Police, Adult Parole Authority, Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority police, and other state and local agencies.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason’s office will assist in the prosecution of this case in the United States District Court. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Kall and Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Greg Mussman.

Mason’s office is also prosecuting the Convenient Foodmart robbery case in state court as well.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any; the defendants’ roles in the offenses; and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.