Robbery Crew Member Who Impersonated Law Enforcement Sentenced

ROBBERY CREW MEMBER WHO IMPERSONATED LAW ENFORCEMENT SENTENCED

Defendant Dressed as Police Officer to Commit Home Invasion

ATLANTA - Torrez Seymore, 25, of Baltimore, Md., was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., for possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana obtained by robbery and discharging a firearm in connection with that robbery.

“The violence associated with drug crimes is especially disturbing to our community,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “We work hard to maintain public confidence that people are safe.  Homes being raided by criminals dressed in law enforcement gear, carrying guns and yelling police is extremely unsettling. This case effectively dismantled this robbery crew,” she said.       

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court:  On January 14, 2010, Seymore and four others dressed as police officers and carrying guns assaulted a suburban house on Hyland Drive in DeKalb County, Ga.  He and his fellow robbers used a vehicle tracking device on the victim’s cars to find the location of the house.  The crew thought that the residents were marijuana suppliers. 

The robbers wore fake police badges and vests with the word “Police” printed on them. They also carried handcuffs and firearms.  As they pulled into the victim’s driveway, he came out of the house.  The robbers yelled, “DeKalb County Police get down, cuff him!”  Their goal was to force the victim take them to a “stash” house where they believed additional drugs were stored.  While the robbers were in the middle of trying to kidnap the victim, a friend of the victim arrived and the robbers traded gunfire with him on the lawn. The robbers then beat and kidnaped the victim. The victim took the crew to his girlfriend’s home, under the pretense that it was the “stash” house that the robbers sought to find.  The victim’s girlfriend fled the home through the back door and called police, who came and rescued the victim.

“Gun violence perpetrated by anyone tears at the very fabric of our communities; but when this violence is committed by impersonating law enforcement; an alarming message of intolerance needs to be sent to those who dare to engage in such offenses,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Aladino Ortiz. “As the violent crime bureau, ATF will see to it that individuals who illegally arm themselves are removed from our streets so that our communities can remain a safe place to live and prosper.”

Seymore was sentenced to 13 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Seymore was convicted of these charges on March 7, 2013, upon his plea of guilty.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kim Dammers and Timothy Storino prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.