Memphis, TN - Today, United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III, announced that Arthur Chandler, 25, was convicted and Rodney Benton, Jr., 21, pleaded guilty for their participation in an armed robbery of the McDonald’s Restaurant at 2030 S. Germantown Road, in Germantown, Tennessee on November 15, 2009. Chandler was also convicted of participating in an armed carjacking that occurred before the robbery.

Chandler’s case was tried before the Honorable Bernice B. Donald, United States District Court Judge, on January 11, 2011. He was charged with carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119, using a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), robbery affecting interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, and using a firearm during and in relation to the robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The charges stemmed from a carjacking and robbery of the McDonald’s at 2030 S. Germantown Road on November 15, 2009. On January 12, 2011, Chandler was found guilty on all four counts. He will be sentenced on April 21, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. He faces a statutory minimum sentence of 32 years in prison for the § 924(c) violations, to run consecutive to any sentence imposed for the robbery and carjacking.

On January 11, 2011, Benton pleaded guilty to the robbery of the McDonald’s, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, and using a firearm during and in relation to that crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Benton’s plea agreement includes a joint recommendation that he be sentenced to 25 years in prison. Benton will be sentenced on April 20, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz handled the prosecution of this case on behalf of the United States, and he was assisted by the Germantown Police Department and the Safe Streets Task Force.

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