Kendrick Jones, Donut Shop Robberies, Texas 2023

SHERMAN, TX – Kendrick Donnell Jones, Jr., 24, of Grand Prairie, is headed to federal prison for over two decades after being sentenced for his brutal role in a string of home invasion robberies that terrorized donut shop owners across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant handed down a 262-month sentence today, marking a significant blow to the crew that preyed on hardworking business owners.

The FBI investigation, spanning from April 2019 to December 2019, revealed a calculated and violent pattern. Jones and his accomplices targeted the owners and operators of donut shops, conducting surveillance to determine their home addresses and routines. Late at night or in the pre-dawn hours, they’d force their way into the victims’ homes, unleashing a barrage of violence. At least nine robberies were linked to this crew, each one leaving victims traumatized and financially devastated.

The attacks weren’t simple burglaries. Victims were routinely beaten with baseball bats, bound with duct tape, and held at gunpoint. One particularly harrowing incident on July 8, 2019, in Euless, Texas, saw a victim discovered stumbling down the street, hands bound, and suffering a severe head wound. He’d been ambushed in his own home, robbed of $9,500 from a safe, another $900 in cash, his car keys, and his cell phone. The crew demanded access to the safe, escalating the violence when met with resistance.

Federal investigators pieced together the evidence through a combination of surveillance footage, cell phone data, and forensic analysis of the phones used by the perpetrators. This meticulous work definitively linked Jones to the attacks. The FBI’s Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force, a collaborative effort involving multiple local agencies – Dallas, Garland, Grand Prairie, Richardson Police Departments, and the Texas Department of Public Safety – played a critical role in bringing Jones to justice. The ATF and several other police departments also contributed to the investigation.

Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to kidnap, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. This multi-faceted charge sheet reflects the gravity of his crimes and the danger he posed to the community. His sentence sends a clear message that such brazen violence will not be tolerated.

This sentencing follows closely on the heels of another conviction in the case. Last month, Tony Sullivan received a 25-year federal prison sentence for his participation in the robberies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernest Gonzalez prosecuted the case, securing a lengthy prison term for Jones and ensuring that those responsible for this wave of violence are held accountable. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities assess whether additional individuals were involved in the scheme.

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