Chrisheena Ladale Milburn, Jugging Conspiracy, TX 2024

Two Houston siblings orchestrated a violent crime spree that terrorized Dallas-area small business owners for nearly two years, targeting them the moment they left banks with cash. Chrisheena Ladale Milburn, 28, of Houston, and her brother, Brandon Chermaine Mallet, 32, of Missouri City, Texas, were sentenced this week to 220 months and 170 months in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to conspiracy and multiple counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

The crimes, known as ‘juggings,’ involved the suspects surveilling bank customers—often small business operators—then following them to their next destination before ambushing them and stealing cash. The FBI tied Milburn, Mallet, and their crew to more than 30 such robberies across the Dallas metro from 2016 to 2017. The crew stole over three-quarters of a million dollars, ripping off hardworking entrepreneurs who relied on cash transactions.

The FBI’s violent crimes task force launched a sweeping investigation after jugging incidents spiked to over 80 reported cases in 2017. Milburn and Mallet were first arrested by Dallas Police in June 2016 while fleeing the scene of a robbery. They were caught again in July 2017 during an undercover sting operation targeting jugging activity. Evidence gathered through surveillance, witness testimony, and forensic tracking revealed the Houston-based crew’s extensive network and coordinated tactics.

Thirteen defendants were ultimately charged in the federal case. Eleven have pleaded guilty, including Jarvis Broussard (90 months), John Christopher Jones (180 months), and Tony Jarel Russell (65 months). Three defendants still face pending charges. Prosecutors said this marks the first federal prosecution of a jugging robbery conspiracy in U.S. history—a precedent-setting takedown of an insidious form of organized street crime.

“These defendants were systematically harming small business owners, who represent a backbone of Dallas’ economy,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “I’m proud of the prosecutors, agents, and officers who helped us bring justice in this milestone case.” The FBI credited interagency collaboration with the Dallas, Garland, Irving, and Richardson Police Departments as critical to dismantling the crew.

FBI Dallas Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider emphasized the agency’s ongoing commitment: “We will continue to pursue criminals with all available resources at our disposal and remain determined to eradicate violent crime from our streets.” Despite a dramatic drop in jugging reports—from over 80 in 2017 to just one in 2018—the FBI warns the public to remain alert, especially those conducting large cash transactions. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian McKay and Sid Mody prosecuted the case.