Darrell Gillespie, Armed Robbery, West Virginia 2015

Grimy Times has learned that a string of armed home invasions wreaked havoc in multiple states, leaving a trail of destruction and violence in its wake. The mastermind behind the heinous crimes was Darrell Gillespie, a 36-year-old man from Smyrna, Georgia.

Gillespie, along with his co-conspirators, committed a string of armed robberies dating back to the fall of 2011 in Pittsburgh. The men traveled to Pittsburgh to rob a drug dealer, and after the robbery, they returned to Charleston to split up the marijuana stolen in the heist.

Over the next four months, Gillespie, Jamaa Johnson, or their co-conspirators, participated in six more robberies in West Virginia and Virginia. All of these robberies involved firearms, and during a January 18, 2012, robbery in Charleston, the victim was shot in the leg and stabbed.

Gillespie was convicted after a nearly three-week jury trial in January 2015. The federal jury found Gillespie guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and using firearms in crimes of violence, as well as obstruction of justice charges. His co-defendant, Jamaa Johnson, was previously sentenced to over 19 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

“Gillespie and his co-conspirators committed a string of armed home invasions, wreaking havoc in multiple states for months,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “I commend the work of the investigative agencies and my team that got this violent crew off our streets.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the South Charleston Police Department, and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Monica D. Coleman handled the prosecution. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence.

Gillespie was sentenced to 265 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy to commit armed robbery. This is a significant victory for law enforcement and a testament to their tireless efforts to keep our communities safe.

The case number for this conviction is 2:13-cr-00091. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for this case number.

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