Baton Rouge Man Convicted in Connection With Spree of Armed Robberies at Local Convenience Stores

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson announced today that KEITH MIGUAL WILLIAMS, age 45, of Baton Rouge, has pled guilty before U.S. District Judge James J. Brady to five counts of interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). WILLIAMS faces a significant federal prison term, in addition to fines, restitution, and forfeiture, and his sentencing date has not been set by the court.

During yesterday’s hearing, WILLIAMS admitted to robbing numerous Baton Rouge convenience stores, including Circle Ks, a Walgreens, and a Cracker Barrel, during a period of less than two weeks last summer. WILLIAMS admitted to using multiple weapons to commit these robberies, including firearms, a hammer, and pepper spray, and admitted that he had forced victim cashiers to fill duffle bags with dozens of cartons of cigarettes, worth thousands of dollars, from the stores’ inventories. The defendant’s spree ultimately ended after a car chase with local law enforcement officers.

Acting U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson stated, “For a period of two weeks in the summer of 2016, this defendant’s dangerous spree of armed robberies put our community and its citizens in fear. We commend the law enforcement officers who investigated this case, brought these armed robberies to a stop, and worked with us to bring Mr. Williams to justice.”

This matter is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Baton Rouge Police Department, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Crosswell and Cal Leipold.