FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MONDAY - July 6, 2009

ROBBER SENTENCED

NEW BERN - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan, sentenced the last of three defendants in a Food Lion robbery. JASON LARTO SMALL, 24, of Raleigh, North Carolina was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. The Court also imposed restitution in the amount of $3.688.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on September 4, 2008. On April 7, 2009, SMALL pled guilty to aiding and abetting a conspiracy to commit robberies of a business in interstate commerce and to using and carrying a firearm during a federal crime of violence.

On May 9, 2008, SMALL, along with his two co-defendants Jerrod Andrew Elliott and Wayne Tyrone Eason and another individual robbed a Food Lion, located in Garner, North Carolina. Elliott brandished a firearm, the unnamed individual brandished a knife, while SMALL operated as a lookout and Eason was the getaway driver. Surveillance video identified SMALL. SMALL and Eason were arrested after they attempted to flee the scene. Proceeds from the robbery were found in the areas where SMALL and Eason were arrested. The firearm was recovered in a hotel room, which Elliott had rented.

Mr. Holding commented, “The third of three dangerous criminals has been put away for a long time. It is the hope that during his time in prison, Mr. Small will learn from his mistake and take appropriate action to turn his life around.”

Elliott and Eason were sentenced on April 9, 2009, to 24 and 36 months imprisonment, respectively.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Wake County Sheriff’s Office; the Garner Police Department; and the Raleigh Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.