TALLAHASSEE, FL – Whitfield Leland III, 45, will spend the next two decades of his life behind bars after being sentenced to 22 years in federal prison today for a brazen armed robbery of a Tallahassee Dollar General. Leland, a repeat offender with a lengthy rap sheet, was convicted of Hobbs Act Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and being an Armed Career Criminal in Possession of a Firearm.
The incident, which unfolded on May 20, 2024, saw Leland enter the store armed with a pistol, pointing it at the store manager and demanding access to the safes. A quick-thinking customer dialed 911, and Tallahassee Police Department officers arrived on scene within minutes, surrounding the building while Leland was still inside. But the ex-mayoral candidate wasn’t about to surrender quietly.
In a pathetic attempt at disguise, Leland stole a Dollar General employee shirt and attempted to blend in as he exited the store. He didn’t get far. When ordered to stop, Leland took off running, dropping a trail of stolen cash as he fled. Officers quickly apprehended him, finding him hiding in nearby bushes, still sporting the stolen shirt and with an additional $689 stuffed into his pockets – the total amount pilfered from the store.
But this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment crime. U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin revealed Leland is a 13-time convicted felon, qualifying as an Armed Career Criminal due to previous violent offenses, including two incidents of resisting law enforcement with violence and one aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Ironically, Leland ran for Tallahassee mayor in 2022, a failed bid that now seems like a distant, twisted joke.
“Thanks to excellent work of our law enforcement partners, this career criminal will no longer be able to victimize and terrorize our community,” Heekin stated. Leland’s 22-year sentence will be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and he’s been ordered to pay restitution. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell echoed the sentiment, stating the outcome “reflects our continued commitment to protecting Tallahassee’s residents and businesses from harm.”
The investigation was a joint effort between the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case, which falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting violent crime and transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also issued a reminder to residents: lock your car doors, as unlocked vehicles are a primary source of firearms for criminals in the Northern District of Florida.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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