MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL – A brazen robbery spree terrorizing South Florida restaurants and food stores has ended with a hefty sentence. Zeddrick Smith, 46, of Miami-Dade County, will spend the next 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to six armed robberies committed in late 2016. The sentence was handed down yesterday by U.S. Chief District Judge K. Michael Moore, followed by five years of supervised release.
The crime wave unfolded over a mere two-and-a-half weeks, starting November 24, 2016, and continuing through December 11, 2016. Smith targeted multiple victims at gunpoint, leaving businesses and patrons shaken. Law enforcement officials recovered the loaded firearm used in the robberies from Smith’s vehicle, cementing the case against him. Adding insult to injury, Smith was already a convicted felon, making firearm possession illegal.
The collaborative takedown involved a multi-agency effort led by Acting United States Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, and Special Agent in Charge Peter J. Forcelli of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Miami Field Division. Support also came from the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD), South Miami Police Department, Coral Gables Police Department, Pinecrest Police Department, and the City of Miami Police Department (MPD).
“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement,” stated Mr. Greenberg. “The rapid investigation and successful prosecution send a clear message: armed robbery will not be tolerated in South Florida.” The investigation revealed a pattern of Smith targeting establishments during business hours, creating a climate of fear for both employees and customers.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marianne Curtis, from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case. Court records detail the sequence of robberies and the evidence linking Smith to each incident. The recovered firearm will now be subject to further analysis and potential use in other investigations.
For those seeking additional information, related court documents are available on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or through PACER at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. Smith’s 25-year sentence serves as a stark reminder that violent crime carries severe consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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