DALLAS – Another piece of trash is off the streets. Coby Cole Ditto, 21, received a hefty 168 months in federal prison yesterday for his part in a string of brazen armed robberies that terrorized convenience stores in the Dallas area back in 2015. U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay handed down the sentence, a clear message that this kind of violent behavior won’t be tolerated, according to U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Ditto pleaded guilty back in October 2016 to a one-two punch of federal charges: conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The feds weren’t messing around. This wasn’t just about stolen cash; it was about the fear and violence inflicted on store employees and the community.
Ditto wasn’t working alone. His crew of co-defendants – Michael Deshun Holland, Jr., 22, Devonte Aaron Dillard, 24, Tatiana Renee Sallie, 20, and Trenton Kyle Sirkel, 21 – are all facing the music. Dillard already got slammed with a 240-month sentence, while Sirkel received a comparatively light 24 months. Holland and Sallie are still waiting for their day in court, but they can expect a similar fate.
Court documents paint a grim picture of pre-meditated crime. The group plotted the robberies of multiple 7-Eleven stores in Mesquite and Garland, meticulously planning their attacks. On May 8, 2015, Ditto, Dillard, Holland, and Sirkel stormed a 7-Eleven on Interstate Highway 30 in Mesquite, waving a firearm and making off with an undisclosed amount of money. Just days later, on May 12, the same crew, joined by Sallie, hit another 7-Eleven on Gus Thomasson Road in Mesquite. This time, the violence escalated; they struck an employee in the head with the firearm before robbing the store. That same night, they didn’t stop there, attacking yet another 7-Eleven on Northwest Highway in Garland, assaulting another employee and stealing more cash.
The investigation was a coordinated effort between the Mesquite Police Department, the Garland Police Department, and the FBI. These agencies worked tirelessly to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Hoxie and Keith Robinson were the prosecutors on the case, building a solid case that led to Ditto’s conviction and lengthy sentence.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who work in the service industry and the importance of law enforcement’s commitment to protecting our communities. While 168 months isn’t a lifetime, it’s enough time to hopefully prevent Ditto from victimizing anyone else. The Grimy Times will continue to follow the sentencing of his accomplices as this case closes.
RELATED: Kevin Howard Sentenced to 25 Years for Dallas 7-Eleven Armed Robberies
RELATED: Devonte Dillard Gets 20 Years for 4 Armed Robberies
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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