Felon Arraigned On Federal Indictment For Armed Robbery Of Adult Novelties Store

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas felon was arraigned on an indictment in federal court yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler for robbing an adult novelty store at gunpoint, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Comet Traye Russell, 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 21, 2019, with one count of interference with commerce by robbery; one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, on June 11, 2019, Russell was armed with a 9mm handgun and robbed The Love Store located in North Las Vegas. Russell is a felon with a burglary conviction and is prohibited from possessing firearms.

A jury trial is scheduled for December 2, 2019. The maximum penalty Russell faces upon conviction of all three charges is life imprisonment and a $750,000.00 fine. An indictment is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.