Raheem Lorinzo Lacey Sentenced in Chinese Restaurant Robberies

Armed and ruthless, they struck under cover of night, stalking workers fresh off their shifts at Chinese food joints across Hampton Roads. Now, Raheem Lorinzo Lacey, 23, of Suffolk, Virginia, is paying the price—12 years behind bars for his role in a string of violent armed robberies targeting employees delivering food orders.

Court documents lay bare the cold calculus of the crimes. Between January and August 2017, Lacey served as the getaway driver in three separate armed robberies, all following the same brutal pattern. He and two co-conspirators waited outside restaurants, then tailed delivery workers to their homes. Once isolated, the victims were ambushed by armed men waving handguns, demanding cash and valuables.

From July 28 to August 14, 2017, the crew hit six victims in rapid succession. They stole at least $4,500 in cash and personal property, leaving fear in their wake. The attacks weren’t random—they were targeted, predatory, and built on the assumption that delivery workers carried cash from orders. Lacey, behind the wheel, ensured the crew vanished into the dark.

The Eastern District of Virginia moved swiftly to dismantle the operation. U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the plea deal this week, handing down the 12-year sentence. Lacey’s co-conspirators, who carried out the physical assaults, face separate prosecutions as the feds tighten the net.

“This was organized, violent crime preying on vulnerable workers,” said Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We’re sending a message: target our communities, and we’ll come at you with the full force of federal law.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Young.

The bust was a joint effort by federal and local agencies. ATF, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, and the Portsmouth Police all played critical roles. Special Agent in Charge Thomas L. Chittum III (ATF), Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael K. Lamonea (HSI), and Chief Tonya D. Chapman of the Portsmouth Police joined in announcing the sentencing. Court records, including Case No. 2:17-cr-146, are available via PACER and the Eastern District of Virginia’s public docket.