Atlanta Men Get 9, 9.5 Years for Greenville Jewelry Store Robbery

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Two Atlanta men have been locked up for good after orchestrating the brazen armed robbery of a high-end jewelry store in Greenville. Tony Nico Clark, 35, and Dedrek Jaquon Hale, 30, both Atlanta residents, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the heist.

According to court documents, on May 17, 2023, the duo carried out the daylight robbery at a local jewelry store, leaving a trail of destruction and terrified employees and customers in their wake. Surveillance footage showed the men pointing guns at victims as they smashed display cases with hammers and smashed glass with handguns.

Clark, who walked into the store unmasked, allowed two masked accomplices to enter the store, where they brandished handguns and ordered everyone to the floor. One of the masked men used a hammer to break display cases, while Hale smashed glass with his handgun.

The robbers fled the scene in a waiting car, returning to the Atlanta area. But law enforcement was hot on their trail, using DNA and other physical evidence to tie Clark and Hale to the crime. The duo was arrested in October 2024 and, after pleading guilty to multiple charges, were sentenced by United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin.

Clark, 35, was sentenced to 110 months in federal prison, while Hale, 30, received a 115-month sentence. Both sentences will be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision, with no parole available in the federal system. The court also ordered each defendant to make restitution of over $140,000.

The investigation was led by the FBI Columbia field office, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.

The robbery was just the latest in a string of high-profile crimes in the region. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Clark and Hale’s conviction serves as a stark reminder that the Justice Department is committed to bringing those responsible for violent crimes to justice, no matter where they come from or how they try to hide.