Las Vegas Man Sentenced To 29 Years In Prison For Series Of Armed Robberies

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was convicted of committing four armed robberies — including two bank robberies and a robbery of the same Starbucks coffeehouse twice — was sentenced today to 29 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

In May 2021, a jury convicted Edwin Arnold Jr., 25, of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the five-day jury trial and the sentencing hearing today.

According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, between December 2016 and January 2017, Arnold and co-conspirator Shamariae Marshon Jones (25), of Pasadena, California, robbed two banks and a Starbucks coffeehouse — stealing a total of $14,280. During each robbery, Arnold brandished a handgun at employees, demanded money, and threatened to shoot if they did not comply. On January 26, 2017, the FBI's Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Arnold and Jones when the two drove back to Arnold's residence immediately after committing their latest robbery.

Jones was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. Jones faces a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison at his sentencing hearing on January 18, 2022.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese is prosecuting the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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