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Armed Robbers Sentenced to Prison
Houston, TX – In a shocking turn of events, two men have been ordered to prison for their roles in the armed robbery of a local massage parlor. Javian Chapman, 20, and Joseph Berzat, 21, both of Houston, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in March 2018.
According to court documents, Chapman and Berzat entered the Hana Spa located at 14015 Bammel North in Houston, demanding money and property at gunpoint. The suspects broke open the ATM and removed cash from inside using a drill and other tools they had brought with them. They also discharged a firearm during the robbery.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered DNA from seminal fluid found at the scene which positively identified Berzat and Chapman. Investigators also recovered a palm print from the ATM, which was determined to match Berzat. Additionally, Spa employees identified both men as the suspects that held pistols and demanded money during the robbery.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen handed Chapman a 63-month sentence for the robbery charges in addition to an additional 120 months for the firearms charge, which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. Berzat received 96 months for the robbery charges and 120 months for the firearms charge. The respective 183 and 216-month terms of imprisonment will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution for an ATM they damaged and the cash they stole as well as medical expenses incurred by one of the victims. At the hearing, the court heard Berzat and Chapman had physically assaulted the employees. The court determined that the robbers had abducted employees by forcing them to move into separate rooms at gunpoint.
The FBI and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Wirsing and Jill J. Stotts prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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