Two Louisville Felons Sentenced To Federal Prison For Their Roles In A String Of Armed Robberies Of Local Businesses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two Louisville felons were sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley, to serve prison terms for their roles in a string of armed robberies announced Acting United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. The federal charges stemmed from “Project Recoil,” the on-going partnership of multiple Jefferson County, Kentucky law enforcement agencies, developed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, to maximize penalties for the most violent offenders and to reduce violent crime in our community.

James Gore, Jr. was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison followed by a 3 year period of supervised release, and Tony Trumbo, Jr. was sentenced to 255 months in prison followed by a 3 year period of supervised release for their roles in the armed robberies of three businesses located in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Gore was sentenced after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the obstruction of interstate commerce through robbery of two businesses.  Trumbo was sentenced after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the obstruction of interstate commerce through robbery, attempted robbery of three businesses, and aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a robbery.

According to the plea agreement, Gore admitted to aiding and abetting the robbery of a Thorntons located at 4516 Poplar Level Road, with several other people, on October 30, 2012, and to aiding and abetting the robbery of a Speedway, with several other individuals, located on 3030 Taylor Boulevard on October 31, 2012.          

In a separate plea agreement, defendant Trumbo admitted to attempting to rob the Cricket Wireless store, located at 3125 W. Broadway, along with other individuals, on October 23, 2012.  Surveillance video taken from the store shows Trumbo along with an accomplice who was brandishing a firearm, attempting to rob the store.  Trumbo also admitted to being one of several people to rob the Thorntons located at 4516 Poplar Level Road, on October 30, 2012.  Trumbo further admitted to being one of several people to rob the Speedway located at 3030 Taylor Boulevard on October 31, 2012.  During the course of that robbery, one of Trumbo’s accomplices shot a Speedway customer in the back causing serious bodily injury.

Co-defendants Jescell Whittle and Dahntel Newsome face separate charges for their alleged roles in the armed robberies and attempted robbery of five Jefferson County businesses.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Spencer McKiness and is being investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department.