COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a shocking turn of events, Justice B. Stringer, a 28-year-old Columbus man, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, two counts of aiding and abetting murder using a firearm, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The plea comes after Stringer’s involvement in the murder of a husband and wife at an internet café in Columbus.
The crime took place on January 20, 2019, at the Players Paradise internet café on East Broad Street. According to court documents, Stringer drove co-defendants to and from the robbery, which resulted in the murder of security guard Joseph Arrington and his wife, employee Karen Arrington.
Stringer also participated in a prior café robbery on January 7, 2019, at the Planet Jackpot café on Alum Creek Drive. During this incident, the co-defendants stole approximately $2,400 at gunpoint.
The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in July 2019, charged Stringer and five other defendants with crimes related to a string of robberies of internet gaming businesses. Four of the defendants have already pleaded guilty to related federal crimes, with Chris A. King, 27, set to begin trial on April 3. King is charged with three counts of murder, including the murder of a witness.
Stringer’s plea includes an agreed-upon sentence of 30 years in prison. The plea was announced by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.
The case against Stringer and the other defendants is a stark reminder of the dangers of violent crime and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
In related news, the Players Paradise internet café has since closed its doors, and the community is still reeling from the tragic events of that fateful day.
The community is coming together to support the victims’ families and to demand justice for those responsible.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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