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Men Jailed for Pawn Shop Heist

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two men were sentenced to prison for their roles in a brazen armed robbery at Lev’s Pawn Shop, a federal firearms licensee, on Morse Road in March 2020.

De’onte Peoples, 19, and Demetrius E. Braxton, 23, each pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Braxton was sentenced to 74 months in prison, while Peoples received 76 months in prison last week.

According to court documents, Peoples conceived the idea to rob Lev’s Pawn Shop, and he and Braxton drove to the location in Peoples’ vehicle around 2pm on March 5, 2020. They entered the store carrying firearms and wearing face masks and plastic bags over their shoes, with Peoples also carrying a black suitcase.

The defendants brandished their firearms and demanded that three pawn shop employees fill their suitcases with firearms and jewelry from the store’s display cases. While the robbery was in progress, a customer walked into the pawn shop, and Peoples took the man’s wallet, reviewed its contents, and then threw the wallet into the victim’s face.

As the defendants left Lev’s Pawn Shop, one of them yelled that they would kill anyone who called the police. In total, the co-conspirators stole 27 firearms, more than 200 pieces of jewelry, and approximately $2,700 in cash.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Columbus Police Department worked together to bring the defendants to justice. U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. imposed the sentences. The Mifflin Township Police Department assisted in the case.

David M. DeVillers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, and Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan announced the sentences. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Courter Shimeall represented the United States in the case.

The cases against the defendants serve as a reminder of the serious consequences of committing armed robberies and other violent crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.