⏱ 2 min read
Michael Deon Woulard, a 50-year-old Gainesville man, has been sentenced to 14 years and 10 months in federal prison for a string of robberies in Jacksonville and Ocala. On October 10, 2023, Woulard robbed a Value Pawn shop in Jacksonville, making off with $45,945 in stolen goods. He then targeted two Kay Jewelers stores, one in Jacksonville on November 25, 2023, and another in Ocala on February 20, 2024, using a semi-automatic pistol to intimidate employees and stealing over $700,000 in jewelry.
Woulard’s crime spree was marked by brazen violence, with the defendant brandishing a firearm at employees during the jewelry store robberies. He was arrested on February 21, 2024, while in possession of numerous stolen items from the Ocala heist. During a voluntary interview with investigators, Woulard confessed to committing the robberies.
The case was investigated by a multi-agency task force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Woulard pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026, and was ordered to pay $442,582.59 in restitution to the victims.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard handed down the sentence, which reflects the severity of Woulard’s crimes. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian, with U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announcing the sentencing.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
