Brunswick men await sentencing after admitting to six armed robberies

 Each face up to life in federal prison for violent crimes

BRUNSWICK, Ga: Two Brunswick men face substantial federal prison terms after admitting to the armed robberies of six Brunswick area businesses in August 2020.

Zaeveon Deveon Cooper, 21, and Marquese Bolden, 20, both of Brunswick, await sentencing in U.S. District Court after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Their guilty pleas subject the two to a minimum of seven years and maximum of life in federal prison for the firearms charge, in addition to up to 20 years for the robbery charge, along with restitution and a period of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“These two men terrorized store employees and customers during their three-week robbery spree, halted thanks to excellent work from the FBI and police officers from Glynn County and Brunswick,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue violent criminals who threaten the safety of our communities.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Cooper and Bolden admitted carrying firearms during robberies of two fast-food restaurants and four convenience stores in Brunswick from Aug. 10 to Aug. 30, 2020. In each robbery, the men brandished guns and took money from the store employees and cash registers at gun point. After the two were identified and arrested, investigators recovered one 9mm pistol used in the robberies.

Bolden is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 4; sentencing for Cooper has not yet been set.

“These two men terrorized innocent businesses and were a threat to the community every day they were on our streets,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Once again, these arrests would not have been possible without a joint effort with our law enforcement partners. Those partnerships are invaluable when violent criminals spread fear throughout our communities.”

The FBI, Brunswick Police Department, and Glynn County Police Department investigated the case, which is being prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia