Pair Sentenced For Fort Benning Jewelry Store Burglary

United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III announces that Antonio Riggins, age 35, of Columbus, GA, and Steven Scott, aged 49, also of Columbus, were sentenced today for their roles in a Balfour Jewelry store burglary that occurred on Fort Benning on November 14, 2015.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Clay D. Land sentenced Mr. Riggins to 18 months confinement, followed by 3 years supervised release. Mr. Scott was sentenced to 27 months confinement, consecutive to a revoked state of Georgia sentence, followed by 3 years supervised release.

The evidence showed that in November 2015, both Mr. Riggins and Mr. Scott were civilian contract workers on Fort Benning. On or about November 12, 2015, both men went to the Balfour’s Jewelry store, posing as customers, and surveyed the premises. Balfour’s is part of a mini-mall that includes other shops. They determined that there was little or no surveillance equipment inside the store. On November 14, 2015, the two men returned to the store after business hours. Mr. Scott possessed a hammer, which he used to break a glass paned door which led inside the main mall. He then used a pair of wire cutters to pierce a metal roll down door that separated Balfour’s from the mall area. Mr. Scott then entered the store and stole approximately $38,000 worth of rings and other assorted jewelry. His handprint was recovered from the floor adjacent to the point of entry. While Mr. Scott burglarized the store, Mr. Riggins remained outside as a lookout.

For the next six days, both Mr. Riggins and Mr. Scott sold much of the stolen jewelry to local pawn shops. An additional quantity of stolen jewelry was recovered from Mr. Scott’s home. Most of the stolen items were eventually recovered. Both defendants admitted their roles in the burglary.

The case was investigated by the Fort Benning Criminal Investigations Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.