Nashville Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy And Attempted Robbery Of East Nashville Beauty Supply Store

Michael M. Thompson a/k/a Monkey Man, 35, of Nashville, Tenn., pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court, to conspiracy and attempted robbery, announced David Rivera, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Thompson also pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the facts presented at the plea hearing, on December 26, 2014, Thompson entered the Beauty & Beyond store located at 710 Gallatin Pike in Nashville and brandished a loaded handgun at the employees and placed the gun against a store clerk’s head while demanding money. The store clerks resisted and grappled Thompson for the gun and were eventually able to pry the gun from Thompson’s hands and held him until police officers arrived.

Thompson admitted that he was a previously convicted felon with two aggravated robbery convictions, one of which was an armed robbery of another beauty supply store; two statutory rape convictions; two felony drug-related convictions; and several felony convictions for violating state sex offender registry requirements.

The plea agreement calls for Thompson to receive a sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger on June 2, 2017.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Gang Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sunny A.M. Koshy.