Inver Grove Heights Cell Phone Store Robber Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of JAMAAL MARQUIE MAYS, 34, to 180 months in prison for the armed robbery of an Inver Grove Heights business. MAYS and his co-defendant, JAQUON KESHAWN MOMAN, 26, were charged in a superseding indictment on February 7, 2018. MAYS, who pleaded guilty on September 21, 2018, was sentenced yesterday before Chief Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. MOMAN pleaded guilty on August 1, 2018, and was sentenced on January 2, 2019, to 72 months in prison.

United States Attorney MacDonald said, “These defendants showed complete disregard for human life when they made the decision to commit armed robbery of a business establishment located in a busy suburban retail area. Such brazen acts of violence will not be tolerated in our communities and we, along with our law enforcement partners, are committing all necessary resources to bringing violent criminals to justice.”

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on August 17, 2017, MAYS and MOMAN entered a Verizon Wireless store in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, armed with a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. After waiting for customers to leave the store, MAYS and MOMAN held the store employee at gunpoint while demanding money and cell phones. The employee pretended to comply, but then shot MAYS in self-defense with a firearm the employee was licensed to carry. MAYS’ firearm was also discharged. During the exchange of gunfire, a stray bullet grazed a worker in an adjacent restaurant. MAYS was wounded and remained at the scene, while MOMAN fled on foot.   

The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, allows federal prosecutors to prosecute individuals who commit armed robberies of businesses engaged in interstate commerce.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Inver Grove Heights Police Department. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state and local law enforcement to combat violent crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp prosecuted the case.

Defendant Information:

JAMAAL MARQUIE MAYS, 34

Unknown

Convicted:

• Hobbs Act robbery, 1 count
• Discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 180 months in prison
• Five years of supervised release

JAQUON KESHAWN MOMAN, 26

Unknown

Convicted:

• Hobbs Act robbery, 1 count
• Discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 72 months in prison
• Three years of supervised release

###

Additional news available on our website.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600