Date: 08-16-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:17-cr-00243-SO

Judge: Solomon Oliver, Jr.

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (Cuyahoga County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Carol M. Skutnik and Megan Miller

Defendant's Attorney: Tom Conway

Description: Cleveland, OH - Cleveland man sentenced to 32 years in prison for armed robberies of Dollar Tree stores in Cleveland

A Cleveland man was sentenced to more than 32 years in federal prison for armed robberies of Dollar Tree stores in 2016.

William Holmes, 22, was sentenced to 389 months in federal prison. Holmes was convicted of brandishing a firearm during robberies of the Dollar Tree store at 12900 Miles Road on June 4 and at 2892 East 116th Street on June 19, as well as robbing the Miles Road store on May 14.

Holmes entered the Miles Road store on the evening of June 4, held a handgun to an employee’s head and told the employee to disarm the alarm. Holmes took approximately $1,500 from the store, according to court documents and trial testimony

One day after that robbery, Holmes posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding a stack of money in one hand and a handgun in the other. The next day he posted a photograph of several stacks of money, a black pistol and candy laying on a table. Holmes captioned the photo: “Money guns n snacks is life,” according to court documents and trial testimony.

U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said: “This defendant is a predator who pointed a loaded gun at the head of someone just trying to do their job, then bragged about it on social media. We will continue to target these violent criminals and work together to make our community a safer place to live, work and play.”

“ATF and the Cleveland Division of Police continue our joint effort to remove violent criminals from the streets of Cleveland,” said Trevor Velinor, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “No one should face the threat of violence as they conduct their daily lives. ATF, CPD, and all of our law enforcement partners are united in sending a clear message that firearms violence is unacceptable and those who threaten our communities will be punished.”

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said: “Once again, a partnered effort between local and federal law enforcement and the federal justice system has resulted in the successful conviction of violent offenders. It is my hope that this sets an example for other young people in our communities considering committing offenses like these, as there are severe consequences for these actions.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigate by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police.

Charges:

18:1951(a) and 2 Hobbs Act robbery
(2-3)

18:924(c)(1)(A) Carrying using or brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence
(4)

18:1951(a) and 2 Hobbs Act robbery
(5)

18:924(c)(1)(A) and 2 Carrying using or brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence
(6)

Outcome: Custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 5 months, counts 2-3 and 5 concurrent; fine waived; 3 years supervised release, concurrent to all other counts, with standard and special conditions, special assessment $100 each count, total $500.00.

Custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 84 months, consecutive to all other counts; fine waived; 3 years supervised release, concurrent to all other counts, with standard and special conditions, special assessment $100 each count, total $500.00.

Custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 5 months, counts 2-3 and 5 concurrent; fine waived; 3 years supervised release, concurrent to all other counts, with standard and special conditions, special assessment $100 each count, total $500.00.

Custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 300 months, consecutive to all other counts; fine waived; 3 years supervised release, concurrent to all other counts, with standard and special conditions; special assessment $100 each count, total $500.00

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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