5 Sentenced in Brutal Cell Phone Store Robberies

Montgomery, AL – In a brazen display of violence, five defendants have been sentenced for their roles in robbing two cell phone stores at gunpoint in Montgomery, Alabama.

According to the Department of Justice, the group of robbers, all residents of Montgomery, Alabama, with the exception of Devontae Gentry from Chicago, Illinois, targeted two cell phone stores in the city. On April 25, 2023, they entered a cell phone store on Eastern Boulevard, using a gun to threaten employees and gain access to the safe. The group made off with assorted electronic devices.

The same group repeated the same actions on May 18, 2023, this time at a cell phone store on Ann Street in Montgomery. Again, the defendants used a firearm to threaten store employees and gain access to the safe.

After the Ann Street store robbery, law enforcement located the group as it was traveling on an interstate highway in Chilton County. Responding officers were able to stop the defendants’ vehicle after a brief pursuit. The officers identified Devon Bledson as the driver. They found three other group members in the vehicle: Staci Gilbert, Jaylan Bledson, and Devontae Gentry. When law enforcement searched the vehicle, they also found firearms and pills containing fentanyl.

Devon Bledson, 29, received a sentence of 204 months in prison for his roles in the robberies and the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Devontae Gentry, 31, received a sentence of 240 months in prison for his role in the robberies. Antonio Provo, 33, received a sentence of 72 months in prison for his role in the robberies. Jaylan Subry Bledson, 19, received a 90-month sentence for his roles in the robberies and brandishing a firearm during a federal crime of violence. Staci Danielle Gilbert, 29, received a prison sentence of 60 months for her roles in the robberies and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

“Combatting violent crime is a top priority for this office,” said United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. “The use of firearms to commit crimes shows a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of community members. This case is yet another example of the good work that results from law enforcement agencies coming together to bring to justice violent individuals.”

The case is a prime example of the violent crime that plagues our communities. The defendants’ use of firearms and the threat of violence they posed to innocent people is a stark reminder of the dangers of this type of crime. The sentences imposed on these defendants should serve as a warning to others who would seek to commit similar crimes.