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Houston Armed Robber Dametric Hunter Gets 19.5 Years in Federal Prison
HOUSTON, TX – A brazen string of armed robberies targeting Walgreens stores across Houston culminated in a deadly shootout and now, a lengthy federal prison sentence for one of the perpetrators. Dametric Marquise Hunter, 24, of Houston, was sentenced today to 234 months – 19 years and 6 months – following his guilty plea in August. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore and will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
The robberies, committed in January and February of 2019, weren’t just about stolen cash. They escalated into a dangerous spree, ending in a violent confrontation with law enforcement. On February 12, 2019, a joint task force moved in on Hunter and his co-defendant, Joshua Dawayne Prater, 23, of Houston, as they attempted to flee the scene of a robbery at a Walgreens on Westheimer Parkway in Fort Bend County. The ensuing shootout left two other individuals, believed to be involved in the robbery, dead.
Hunter pleaded guilty to charges of robbery, brandishing a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Federal prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Michael Lewis and Matthew Roy Peneguy, presented evidence linking Hunter and Prater to multiple robberies throughout 2019. Prater previously pleaded guilty to one count each of robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, receiving a 132-month sentence on November 15.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery announced the sentence, a clear message that targeting businesses and endangering lives will not be tolerated. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and the danger posed to the community,” a statement from the USAO read. The investigation, conducted by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety, pieced together the evidence connecting the duo to the escalating series of heists.
Both Hunter and Prater remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, the location of which will be determined in the coming weeks. The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement and the consequences for those who choose a life of violent crime. The investigation revealed a pattern of calculated risk and disregard for public safety, ultimately leading to a tragic outcome.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. This sentence, while significant, won’t bring back the lives lost in that February shootout, but it does deliver a measure of justice for the victims and the community terrorized by Hunter and Prater’s actions.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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