Halloween Getaway Driver Sentenced to 7 Years
VICTORIA, Texas – Jordan Javon Ashton, a 28-year-old Houston man, has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions for armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Ashton was found guilty by a jury after a three-day trial, with the jury deliberating for less than two hours. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed Ashton a total 84-month-term of imprisonment, which will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
The robbery occurred on October 31, 2023, at Morelos Supermercardos in Victoria, where Latrayveon McNeal and Jerrell Potts robbed the store using a stolen vehicle, gun, and license plates. Wearing masks and armed with firearms, they entered the store, threatened employees at the Barri money services counter, and stole U.S. currency and cashed checks.
Ashton, who was armed and waiting, drove the men from the scene, leaving the stolen truck idling in the middle of the road. The jury saw numerous exhibits, including photographs and surveillance video from the supermarket, the weapons used in the crime, and heard excerpts of 911 calls made on that day.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that Ashton withdrew from the conspiracy, but the jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged. Ashton will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
McNeal, 27, and Potts, 25, both of Houston, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the crime. Both received 87 months in federal prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Victoria Police Department, Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, and Victoria County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.
The victim of the robbery testified at the hearing, describing how they were left afraid to work in public and are suffering from nightmares, poor appetite, and anxiety. The owner of the stolen truck also provided testimony about how his family is frightened as a result of the theft and that his son was sad because his toys were stolen.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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