Dwayne Dupree, Armed Robbery of Dollar General, MI 2014

DETROIT, MI – Two Detroit men face serious federal time after being convicted yesterday of terrorizing employees and stealing from multiple Dollar General stores. Dwayne Dupree, 30, and Shawn Pearson, 23, were found guilty following a week-long trial, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.

The crime spree began December 17, 2014, at the Dollar General located at 13441 E. Seven Mile Road. Four masked men, hoodies pulled tight and hands gloved, stormed the store, brandishing firearms and holding employees hostage while they looted the cash registers. Pearson was identified as one of the robbers, with Dupree acting as a lookout. Less than three weeks later, on January 5, 2015, the same store was hit again. This time, shots were fired at the store manager during the getaway. Pearson was again among the armed robbers, while Dupree served as both lookout and the driver of the escape vehicle.

The duo didn’t stop there. On March 19, 2015, Pearson and Dupree targeted the Dollar General at 16004 Fenkell. Evidence presented at trial revealed Dupree fired a shot into the air during the robbery, a blatant attempt to intimidate employees into handing over the store’s money faster. The brazenness of their actions, officials say, demonstrates a callous disregard for public safety.

The collaborative investigation, spearheaded by the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Detroit Police Department as part of the “Detroit One” initiative, pieced together ballistic evidence, phone records, and social media data to identify Dupree and Pearson. The FBI Detroit Division, led by Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios, and Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department worked tirelessly to bring these criminals to justice.

“The Detroit One partnership focuses on criminals like this armed robbery crew, who endanger public safety and create a climate of fear,” McQuade stated. “By identifying and prosecuting the individuals and groups driving violence in Detroit, we hope to make the city a safe place to live and work.” Gelios added, “The defendants in this string of violent robberies were brazen in both terrorizing employees and placing the public in danger. Yesterday’s verdict demonstrates the value of the continuing investigative partnership between the FBI and the Detroit Police Department.”

Dupree and Pearson were both convicted of three counts of robbery and three counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Sentencing dates have not yet been announced. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Graveline and Michael Heesters prosecuted the case. While the conviction offers some relief, the Grimy Times will continue to monitor the case and report on the sentencing, holding these criminals accountable for their actions.