Hicks Gets 11+ Years for Armed Pawn Shop Robbery & Drug Trafficking

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Marquee Hicks, 22, of Philadelphia, PA, will spend over eleven years behind bars after being sentenced to 140 months in prison today, U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced. Hicks was convicted on multiple federal charges stemming from a brazen armed robbery and subsequent drug trafficking offenses.

The crime unfolded on November 5, 2016, at the Royal Crown Pawn Shop on Dewey Avenue. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, Hicks entered the store under the guise of a potential customer, requesting to view jewelry. When the owner unlocked the display case, Hicks immediately brandished a handgun and, along with accomplices, robbed the establishment. The victim was brutally restrained during the heist, his mouth and legs bound with duct tape before the perpetrators made off with stolen property.

The investigation didn’t stop at the robbery. Roughly four months later, on March 9, 2017, Hicks was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Elmira Police Officers. While officers dealt with the driver, another officer observed Hicks attempting to conceal two baggies of cocaine, dropping them onto the car floor. When officers moved to arrest Hicks, a physical altercation ensued, during which a loaded .40 caliber handgun was recovered from his waistband.

Hicks was ultimately convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and robbery affecting interstate commerce. The sentencing reflects the seriousness of his crimes, a clear message that violent acts and drug trafficking will not be tolerated.

The successful prosecution was a collaborative effort. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, led by Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, spearheaded the investigation, with crucial support from the Greece Police Department, under Chief Patrick Phelan, and the Elmira Police Department, led by Chief Joseph Kane. These agencies worked in concert to bring Hicks to justice.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal crime cases in New York and beyond, bringing you the unvarnished truth about the individuals preying on our communities. Hicks’ 140-month sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences awaiting those who choose a life of crime.

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