HOUSTON – Federal, state and local police have arrested 21 suspects accused of armed robberies of banks, pawn shops and cellphone stores. A 22nd suspect, Michael Cornelious, 25, remains on the run. Agents say the suspects were organized into five crews that had carried out at least five, violent "take down" robberies since 2013.
The charges in the five separate, but similar, cases represent a joint initiative aimed at reducing violent takeover robberies of local businesses by organized armed robbers. The criminal complaints were filed Monday through Wednesday, as four of the defendants were taken into custody. An additional 17 defendants have been transferred from state custody to federal custody.
"These are some of the most violent criminals on the street today. These offenders use violence to promote violence," ATF special agent Robert Elder said.
Officials said that back in January, three of the men robbed a pawn shop in Spring. Police told KPRC 2 News the men hit other stores, too.
In the first case, Cornelious, Kevin Wayne Viser, 37, Fareed Jerrell Barefield, 26, Carey Dion Mitchell, 24, Johnny Ray Jones, 38, and James Leonard Ferguson, 33, all of Houston, are charged with aiding and abetting bank robbery and aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On Aug. 5, 2013, Jones and Ferguson allegedly entered the JPMorgan Chase Bank located at 2929 Shaver St. in Pasadena and ordered customers and employees to the floor at gunpoint and stole cash. Police said while Jones and Ferguson were in the bank, Viser, Barefield, Mitchell and Cornelious were outside conducting surveillance. Cornelious communicated with the suspects inside the bank through an open cellphone connection.
In the second unrelated case, Keith Deshawn Stephens, 27, Keon Kervin Jackson, 26, and Orlander Mathis, 21, all of Houston, are charged with aiding and abetting bank robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to investigators, on July 16, 2014, Mathis and Jackson entered the JPMorgan Chase Bank at 6810 Fry Road in Katy and ordered customers and employees to the floor at gunpoint. They stole a large amount of cash, and one of them allegedly fired a shot into the bank's ceiling to make sure no one followed when they exited. While Mathis and Jackson were in the bank, authorities said Stephens was outside of the bank conducting surveillance and communicating with Mathis and Jackson by cellphone.
The third criminal complaint alleges Calvin Smith, 18, Rodney Ford, 18, Jones, 20, and Bluford, 21, all of Houston, were part of a separate crew responsible for dozens of violent takeover robberies occurring in Harris County. All four men are charged with a federal offense known as the Hobbs Act, interference with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to the charges, on Jan. 25, 2015, Smith, Ford, Jones and Bluford entered the Metro PCS store at 834 Little York Road #B in Houston. Two of the men were allegedly armed with handguns. Employees of the store were ordered at gunpoint to open the safe and registers in the business and a small amount of money was stolen.
Raquel Salinas was working at the store when the gunmen entered.
"I'm just kind of glad that they ended up catching everyone so I don't have to worry about them coming back," Salinas said.
The fourth case involves the violent robbery or attempted robbery of three commercial businesses in the North Houston area. Williams, 30, Alonzo Flowers, 22, Kye Rue, 22, Andre Coleman, 23, and Paul McCoy Jr., 23, all of Houston, are charged with Hobbs Act conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On Jan. 14, 2015, Flowers, Coleman and McCoy allegedly entered Jet Pawn, a federal firearms licensee located at 6135 F.M. 2920 in Spring. They were armed with handguns. One of the store employees was ordered at gunpoint to open the safe, from which cash and a firearm were taken. Additionally, 25 guns were stolen from cases on the sales floor. While the robbery was in progress, Williams was across the street conducting surveillance and communicating through an open-line with Coleman. Rue acted as the driver of the getaway car and was waiting outside the store when the robbers exited.
These same defendants were also allegedly involved in the armed robbery of Cash America Pawn, located at 3211-B F.M. 1960 in Humble on Jan. 9, 2015. The day before the robbery, Williams and Rue checked out the pawn while Williams and McCoy were identified as the actual robbers. McCoy allegedly held a gun to the head of the store manager and Rue acted as the getaway driver, according to the complaint.
These defendants also allegedly attempted to rob the Mad Dog Smoke Shop at 966 West F.M. 1960 in Houston on Jan. 29, 2015. Flowers and Rue allegedly entered the smoke shop with guns and masks covering their faces. However, an employee of the business retrieved his firearm and shot at the suspects, at which time the suspects fell to the floor but managed to escape before police could arrive. The suspects dropped a firearm, which was later identified as a firearm stolen from Jet Pawn, according to the allegations.
In the final case, Keith Deshawn Stephens, 27, Zachary , 23, Jerrel James, 21, Andrew Holley, 22 and Crystal Lewis, 22, all of Houston, are charged with aiding and abetting bank robbery and aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On June 27, 2014, three defendants entered the JPMorgan Chase Bank located at 4755 W. Panther Creek in The Woodlands. They ordered customers and employees to the floor at gunpoint and stole a large amount of cash.
"The greater Houston area has been leading the nation in armored car robberies, violent bank robberies and business " FBI Special Agent Turner said.
Seven of the suspects were arrest in January during a similar sweep by Houston police. Police sources said then many of the suspects grew up in the same northeast Houston neighborhood, and were bound by family, friendship and gang affiliations.
Those charged with aiding and abetting bank robbery face up to 25 years imprisonment, while the conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery or interference with commerce by robbery have maximum penalties of 20 years in federal prison.
All of the charges also carry as punishment a possible $250,000 fine.
The charges in the respective cases are the result of an investigation by the FBI and ATF along with sheriff's offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties, police departments in Houston and Pasadena, Texas Rangers and the Harris County District Attorney's Office with the assistance of Crime Stoppers.