Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Date: 08-03-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 2:20-cr-20243-SHL
Judge: Sheryl H. Lipman
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (Shelby County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Memphis, Tennessee criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm.
On February 10, 2020, Jacolby Whitehead, age 27, of Greenwood, Missississippi, an unknown suspect at the time, entered Cricket Wireless on S. Third Street at approximately 5:50 p.m., pointed a black handgun at employees, and demanded money from the cash registers. Taking approximately $1,700, he then fled the scene.
On February 22, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered the Metro PCS on S. Third Street at approximately 6:30 p.m., where he struck an employee with a black handgun and demanded money from the cash registers. He stole a firearm from an employee and approximately $2,000 and fled on foot. The suspect matched the description of the suspect of the robbery on February 10, 2020. The businesses were located within walking distance.
On March 17, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered the Cricket Wireless on S. Third Street at approximately 9:30 a.m., pointed a black handgun at employees, and demanded cash from the register. While leaving the store, Whitehead struck an employee in the head with his pistol. He fled in a red Chevrolet Equinox which had several unique markings and visible features.
On March 31, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered the Metro PCS on E. Shelby Drive at approximately 4:00 p.m., wearing a facemask and the same clothing as the suspect in the March 17, 2020 robbery. He pointed a black handgun at the employees, took approximately $800 from the register, and fled the scene in a red Chevrolet Equinox, with several similar unique markings. Prior to the robbery, the suspect entered the Dollar General behind the Metro PCS with his face uncovered and was captured on surveillance video.
Officers with MPD's Safe Streets Task Force located a possible suspect vehicle owned by a woman who lived on Court Street. This address was within walking distance of the first two robberies. Investigators researched the woman’s husband, identified as Jacolby Whitehead who also matched the description given by many of the robbery victims.
Surveillance conducted at their residence showed Whitehead driving the red Equinox. Further, law enforcement executed a search warrant for the vehicle and the residence. They recovered clothing similar to that described by the witnesses and seen on surveillance video. Whitehead was Mirandized and admitted to all four of the robberies.
Whitehead pled guilty on July 21, 2021.
Sentencing is scheduled on October 28, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, where Whitehead faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years on each of the firearms counts and up to 20 years on the robbery counts. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
18:1951.F, INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE BY THREAT OR VIOLENCE
(1)
18:924C.F, VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(2)
18:1951.F, INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE BY THREAT OR VIOLENCE
(3)
18:924C.F, VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(4)
18:1951.F, INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE BY THREAT OR VIOLENCE
(5)
18:924C.F, VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(6)
18:1951.F, INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE BY THREAT OR VIOLENCE
(7)
18:924C.F, VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN
(8)
18:922G.F, UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC.
(9-10)
Outcome: Defendant pleaded guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: