Denver Men Sentenced to more than 20 Years in Federal Prison for Robberies and Carjackings

One defendant robbed liquor stores and a bank, while the other defendant carjacked two cars and robbed a convenience store

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that two Denver men were sentenced to more than 20 years, each, for violent robberies and two carjackings that occurred in November 2017.  Thierry Shaqur Roberson was sentenced to serve 252 months (21 years) in federal prison for two liquor store robberies and a bank robbery.  The other defendant, Blake Aaron Newton was sentenced to serve 238 months (24 years) in federal prison for two carjackings and a convenience store robbery.  Both defendants appeared at their sentencing hearings in custody last week, and were remanded at its conclusion.

According to court documents and evidence presented during sentencing of the first case, Thierry Roberson robbed John’s Liquor Store in Denver on November 17, 2017, Pat’s Liquor Store on November 19, 2017, and then, ten days later, robbed the Sunflower Bank.  Roberson used a gun in each robbery with other co-defendants.  During the Sunflower Bank robbery, Roberson wore a blonde wig, a long purple dress with black pants, and a black stocking cap.  Tellers gave the bank robbers thousands of dollars in cash, along with a G.P.S. tracking device.  Denver police responded, tracking the G.P.S. device to an alley.  SWAT and K-9 officers conducted a yard-to-yard search and found Defendant Roberson and a co-defendant hiding in some shrubbery on South Ogden Street.  

In the second matter, Blake Newton carjacked a food delivery driver on November 5, 2017, in Cherry Creek.  Newton pointed a silver handgun at the driver, demanded money, and took the driver’s car.  Two days later, Newton got into a car accident with his girlfriend and newborn child.  He got out of the crashed car and pointed a gun at a couple driving a tan Lexus sedan, ordering them out of the car and onto the ground.  Newton’s girlfriend put a car seat into the Lexus sedan.  Newton, his girlfriend, and their baby then sped away in the Lexus sedan.  The next day, on November 8, 2017, Newton robbed a Circle K convenience store in Greenwood Village.  He pointed a silver and black handgun at the cashier who handed him $69.00.  Newton fled in a Lexus sedan.  Law enforcement caught up with Newton ten days later in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they were able to detain him after a struggle.

“The defendants in these cases became more brazen and more dangerous with each passing crime,” said United States Attorney Jason Dunn.  “I’m thankful to our federal and local law enforcement partners who were able to get these men off the streets and make our communities safer.”

“The recent sentencings of Blake Aaron Newton and Thierry Roberson illustrate the FBI’s commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to address violent crime in our community, including bank robberies,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips.  “These investigations, which spanned several months, were a collaborative effort between local and federal law enforcement.  The community is safer with these suspects behind bars.  These sentencings should send a message to those contemplating bank robbery that they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

These cases were investigated by the Denver Division of the FBI.  The defendants were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt Bohn.

Sentencing in the Thierry matter was conducted by U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson.  Sentencing in the Newton matter was conducted by U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello.

CASE NUMBERS:         17-cr-483 and 17-cr-486