Two Houston men have been sentenced to significant federal prison terms following their convictions for using a firearm during the commission of two convenience store robberies in Harris and Fort Bend Counties.
Derian Joel Caesar and Centel Devon Willis Jr. pleaded guilty in April to the crimes, which occurred on March 15, 2023. On that day, both men acted together and used firearms to rob two different 7-Eleven convenience stores.
In both crimes, Caesar carried a black firearm and took money from the cash drawer, while Willis pointed a black semiautomatic handgun towards the employee on duty. The brazen nature of these crimes has drawn significant attention from law enforcement, who have been working to crack down on violent crime in the Houston area.
Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett ordered Willis to serve 14 years in federal prison, to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Bennett noted that if Willis continued to make these decisions following his imprisonment, he will either return to prison or could even end up dead.
Caesar was previously ordered to serve 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Both men have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation into the robberies, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case. The sentences handed down to Caesar and Willis are a significant step forward in the effort to combat violent crime in Houston, and serve as a warning to others who would consider engaging in similar activities.
The use of firearms during the commission of a crime is a serious offense, and one that carries significant penalties under federal law. The fact that both Caesar and Willis pleaded guilty to the charges against them is a testament to the strength of the evidence against them, and the likelihood of conviction at trial.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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