FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY - October 4, 2010
RALEIGH ROBBERS PLEAD GUILTY
WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today two co-defendants pled guilty to robbing Moe’s Southwest Grill in Cameron Village in Raleigh, North Carolina. TAHJI ANTONIO ELEY, 19, and MICHAEL JAVON SPENCER, 20, pled guilty before United States District Judge James C. Fox to conspiring to rob a business in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951; aiding and abetting a robbery of a business engaged in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951; and aiding and abetting the use and carry of a firearm during a federal crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Additionally, ELEY pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal Indictment on August 11, 2010.
According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made during court hearings, on February 11, 2010, police officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at Moe’s Southwest Grill. The restaurant manager had closed and exited the store with two deposit bags. A vehicle carrying co-defendants Shaniqua Shonta Burrell and Dwight Sherrod Taylor, along with ELEY and SPENCER, pulled into the parking lot. One of the co-defendants jumped from the vehicle, pointed a revolver at the manager and said, “Give me the money. Give me the money.” A second co-defendant jumped from the vehicle demanding the manger’s phone and car keys. Both men jumped back into the vehicle and took off. The responding officers spotted the vehicle and tried to stop it. The driver attempted to elude police, but crashed the vehicle with all four occupants jumping out of and running from the vehicle. Taylor was captured and had one of the bank deposit bags in his possession. Officers located the revolver next to the passenger’s side in the vehicle. ELEY, SPENCER, and Burrell were also captured and arrested. ELEY was found with the second deposit bag.
For conspiring to commit robbery, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment followed by up to three years' supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. For the charge of use and carry of a firearm during a federal crime of violence, each defendant faces up to a life-term of imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed, followed by up to five years' supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. For aiding and abetting of robbery of a business engaged in interstate commerce, each defendant faces up to 20 years' imprisonment followed by up to three years' supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, ELEY faces up to 10 years' imprisonment followed by up to three years' supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine for unlawful possession of a firearm. However, if ELEY is deemed an Armed Career Criminal, the penalties for this offense increase to up to a life-term of imprisonment followed by up to five years' supervised release.
Sentencing has been set for January 18, 2011.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods(PSN) initiative 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 this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives and the Raleigh Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson represented the government.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce.
