TYLER, Texas – A reign of terror targeting Eastern Texas businesses has come to an end with the federal indictment of four Jacksonville men accused of a brutal crime spree. Jonathan Roshard Brown, 21, Maurice Deshun Jones, 30, Willie Duane Rogers, 24, and Michael Dangelio Johnson, 25 are facing serious federal charges after allegedly terrorizing local establishments for over a year.
The federal grand jury returned an 8-count indictment on April 24, 2013, detailing a conspiracy to commit robbery dating back to October 2, 2011. The indictment alleges the crew kicked off their spree by hitting the Jacksonville Wal-Mart Supercenter, making off with $9,465. But this was just the beginning. The group systematically targeted local businesses, escalating in violence with each hit.
The Razorback Grocery on Hwy 69 became a repeat target. On November 2, 2012, Brown, Jones, and Rogers allegedly robbed the store, netting approximately $16,000 in cash and $6,900 in Texas lottery tickets. But the most shocking act came on November 16, 2012, when the same trio returned and Brown opened fire on the store owner while he was waiting in the drive-thru line at the Austin Bank on West Commerce Street. The bullet ripped through the victim’s hand, throat, and shoulder, sending him to a Tyler hospital by air ambulance. The brazen attack forced the closure of both the Razorback Grocery and temporarily shuttered the Austin Bank.
The crew didn’t stop there. On November 23, 2012, Brown and Jones attempted to rob the owner of the Fast Fuel on Hwy 69, but the owner fought back, managing to strike Brown and escape. As if the robberies weren’t enough, Rogers attempted to obstruct justice from behind bars. Between March 19 and March 23, 2013, he allegedly offered a bribe to a witness in the investigation, attempting to buy a recanted statement.
Law enforcement caught up with the crew. Jones was arrested near Bullard, Texas on May 5, 2013, and Rogers was apprehended in Jacksonville the same day. Brown and Johnson were already in custody at the Cherokee County Jail on related charges. The defendants are each charged with one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy. Jones also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Brown is charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm. Rogers faces two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm, and one count of obstruction of a criminal investigation. Johnson is charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm.
Under federal law, the penalties are steep. Multiple convictions for brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence carry a minimum of seven years for the first offense and a staggering 25 years for each subsequent conviction, all to be served consecutively. Each Hobbs Act violation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the Eastern District of Texas.
Related Federal Cases
- Elijah El-Jihad Sentenced for Sherman Bank Robbery · Texas
- Cherokee Co. Men Doled Out Harsh Sentences in Armed Robbery Saga · Texas
- Baciff Bandit Gets 72 Months For Orange Bank Robbery · Texas
- Wall Street Bailout: NY & CA Lose $2 Trillion · North Carolina
- Oklahoma Pipeline Fined $3.3M for Massive Jet Fuel Spill in Texas! · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
