Orlando Men Sentenced for Armed Publix Robberies

Armed and masked, Cecil Dante Buckner and Jarmen Lindell Sharp terrorized Publix supermarkets across Central Florida in a string of violent daylight heists. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton handed down justice: 34 years and 6 months for Buckner, 33, and 13 years for Sharp, 34, both of Orlando, for their roles in a coordinated robbery spree that left employees and customers cowering at gunpoint.

The conspiracy began no later than February 28, 2014, and stretched through April 23, 2014, targeting stores in Orange and Volusia Counties. The first strike hit the Publix at 2295 Aloma Avenue in Winter Park, where Buckner brandished a firearm, holding people hostage at the front while an accomplice stormed the cashier room. They stole thousands before vanishing into the suburban sprawl — but not for long.

Two more robberies followed: March 16 at 7640 West Sand Lake Road in Orlando, and March 30 at 2410 South Woodland Boulevard in DeLand. In each, Buckner and a masked co-conspirator wielded guns, threatened workers and shoppers, and fled with over $24,000 total. Sharp waited in the parking lots as the designated lookout, radioing warnings if police approached. The trio moved like clockwork — but their timing would eventually run out.

Buckner didn’t stop there. On May 4, 2016, he struck again — this time at the Publix on 2515 Thonotosassa Road in Plant City. He and another man forced employees into the back, leveled guns at customers, and escaped with more than $18,000. Surveillance footage, witness statements, and forensic evidence would later tie him to the scene.

Buckner pleaded guilty to multiple counts, including brandishing a firearm during violent crime — a charge that carried steep penalties under federal law. Sharp, though not accused of wielding a weapon, was held accountable for his critical role in enabling the robberies. Prosecutors argued his presence as lookout made the crimes possible, allowing the gunmen to operate with confidence.

The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kara M. Wick led the prosecution, securing convictions that reflect the severity of armed supermarket robbery in Florida’s heartland. Buckner and Sharp now face decades behind bars — their criminal run ended by relentless detective work and federal firepower.

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