Two Cousins Collectively Sentenced to More Than 300 Months for Family Dollar Robbery

Memphis, TN – Two cousins have been collectively sentenced to more than 300 months in federal prison for armed robbery of a Family Dollar Store in Cordova. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencings today.

According to information presented in court, on April 24, 2014, Cortez Strickland, 27, and his cousin, Corney Sanders, 28, both of Memphis, robbed a Family Dollar Store on North Germantown Parkway with a .45 caliber pistol. The defendants entered the store together; Strickland was armed with the handgun. Strickland reportedly pointed the gun at a store clerk, while Sanders made threats and demanded money from the safe and cash register. After placing money from the register in a bag, the two defendants fled the scene on foot.

Law enforcement officials were notified of the robbery and went to the scene. Witnesses told the officers that they recognized the defendants. Officers were able to determine the perpetrators’ identities and located them at a home near the Family Dollar. Officers also recovered proceeds from the robbery and the handgun used in the crime.

Both defendants pled guilty to one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

On October 20, 2015, Sanders was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to serve 105 months in federal prison.

On December 2, 2015, Judge Lipman sentenced Strickland to serve 212 months in federal prison.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, a collective comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel. The Memphis Police Department investigated this case on behalf of the Safe Streets Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.