Man Charged for Armed Robbery of Cleveland Heights Store

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Willie L. Monroe, 32, of Cleveland, with one count of interference with commerce by means of robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The indictment alleges that Monroe, and other unknown individuals, attempted to rob a Family Dollar store in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, on September 23, 2014.  It further alleges that Monroe and the other robbers carried and brandished a firearm during the incident.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases the sentence will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Kendra Klump following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division, and the Cleveland Heights Police Department.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.