Prior felon charged with gunpoint robbery of five Starbucks

HOUSTON – A 24-year-old Houston resident has been indicted on multiple counts of robbery, brandishing a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Kentrelle Tatum is set to appear for his detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison at 11 a.m.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment Feb. 15 which alleges five counts of robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm and one count of illegal possession of a firearm as a felon.

From Sept. 5 to Sept. 11, 2023, Tatum allegedly robbed five separate Houston-area Starbucks establishments over the course of six days while brandishing a firearm.

As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm per federal law.

If convicted, Tatum faces up 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of robbery, while a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a possible 10-year prison term. Each of the charges could also result in fines of up to $250,000. He is also charged with four counts of brandishing a firearm while committing a crime of violence which carries a mandatory seven years to be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.  

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.