Roddrecius Lavelle Goldsmith, Armed Robbery, Alabama 2023

Grimy Times Exclusive: A shocking story of violence and brazen crime unfolded at a Wetumpka gas station. A federal judge handed down a harsh sentence to a Montgomery man for his role in an armed robbery that left a clerk battered and shaken.

Roddrecius Lavelle Goldsmith, 33, was sentenced to 157 months in prison for his involvement in the January 2023 robbery. The judge also ordered Goldsmith to remain on supervised release for five years following his prison term. The federal system does not offer parole.

According to court records, on January 20, 2023, Goldsmith entered a gas station on U.S. Highway 231 in Wetumpka and approached the counter. Pretending to ask about the location of the store’s bathroom, Goldsmith pulled out a handgun and forced the clerk to accompany him into the restroom. There, he struck her in the head with the firearm multiple times.

Goldsmith then forced the clerk back to the counter and demanded money from the cash register. After retrieving approximately $79 from the register’s drawer, Goldsmith exited the store. In a desperate attempt to retrieve his car keys, which he had left inside, Goldsmith returned to the locked gas station doors and fired a round through the glass.

Goldsmith reentered the store through the shattered glass door and retrieved his keys. He then fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of destruction and a shaken clerk.

On May 23, 2024, Goldsmith pleaded guilty to interference with interstate commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and the Wetumpka Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice was served. The harsh sentence handed down by the judge serves as a reminder that violence and crime will not be tolerated in our community.

As we continue to report on the darker side of society, we remain committed to bringing you the facts and shedding light on the crimes that affect us all.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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