Crime Stoppers tip leads to heavy federal sentence for armed robber

HOUSTON – A Houston man has been ordered to prison following his conviction related to his theft of guns from two local pawn shops during armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Jacoby West, 27, pleaded guilty in February 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake handed West a 168-month sentence for the robberies. He also received an additional 84 months for using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The 21-year sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. West was also ordered to pay restitution for the cash he stole and unrecovered firearms in addition to victims’ counseling expenses.

At the hearing today, the court heard West had recruited juvenile co-conspirators and organized the robberies which involved the carjacking of a truck to use as a getaway vehicle. The court also considered victim impact statements as well as dog bite injuries a Pearland Police Department (PPD) officer had sustained as he pursued West’s co-conspirators. The officer required 48 stitches.

A Crime Stoppers tip led to West’s arrest for his involvement in the Dec. 22, 2016, armed robbery of Cash America Pawn #66 on South Wilcrest Drive in Houston and June 26, 2017, robbery of Money Mart Pawn & Jewelry on Broadway Street in Pearland.

West and others stole a total of 40 firearms in the two robberies as well as a significant amount of cash. T0 date, authorities have recovered 25 of those weapons.

West has been and will remain in custody. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pearland Police Department and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing prosecuted the case which was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program to reduce gun and gang crime in America and the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative which seeks to proactively fight violent crime across the Greater Houston area.