Montgomery, Alabama - Joshua Roland Fuller Gilley, 26, of Enterprise, Alabama, and Westly Robert Rogers, 25, of Ozark, Alabama, and Melissa Lynn Mione McGee, 37, of Daleville, Alabama have all been sentenced after pleading guilty to carjacking an Isuzu Rodeo in which three children, ages, 2 ½ years, 1 ½ years, and 2 months old were riding in the backseat; and to kidnapping those same three young children, announced U.S. Attorney, George L. Beck, Jr..
Gilley was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to 46 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to carjacking. Rogers was sentence by Judge Fuller to 32 months imprisonment after pleading to carjacking and McGee was sentence by the same judge to 210 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to kidnapping.
Around May 21, 2011, the victims, J.G. and A.L. were first introduced to McGee by someone they had met over the internet named “Nate." McGee claimed to be a human resources representative from Memphis, Tennessee and offered to help the couple find jobs and a residence near Ozark, Alabama. As a result of this offer, the victims traveled to Ozark. In Ozark, the victims and their three children stayed in a motel room at the Ozark Inn paid for by McGee. During their stay at the Ozark Inn, McGee personally met with the couple, provided them small amounts of money and food and promised to get J.G. a job paying $17 an hour.
On Sunday, June 5, 2011, the victims and the three children drove to a rural area outside of Brundidge, Alabama to meet with McGee and take possession of a mobile home McGee had promised them. When they arrived, McGee introduced them to Rogers and Gilley, who McGee referred to as “Mike" and “Nate". Rogers and Gilley immediately assaulted the young couple and forcibly removed them from their Isuzu Rodeo. Rogers and Gilley then climbed into the Isuzu and drove off with the three children still in the back seat. McGee drove a white SUV ahead of Rogers and Gilley and later took custody of the two month old baby, while the 2 ½ year old and the 1 ½ year old were dumped in the driveway of a residence in Black, Alabama. Upon finding the two older children, the occupants of the residence brought the children to a nearby hospital.
Less than 48 hours after the crime occurred, law enforcement officers were able to track down the baby to a private residence in Dothan, Alabama. The woman who lived there told authorities that she had agreed to watch the baby for McGee, who had claimed the stolen baby was her own child.
“These three defendants, not only endangered these young children by kidnapping them from their mother, but they dumped the two older children in a driveway in rural Alabama, showing no concern for their welfare," said U.S. Attorney, George L. Beck, Jr.. “Their behavior was inexcusable and they should spend substantial time in prison. We are proud of our judiciary in this case for sending a message that these crimes will not be tolerated."
“The defendants’ predatory nature and their willingness to expose this family to such peril and harm is a serious criminal act which will not be tolerated by society," stated Stephen E. Richardson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mobile Division. “The FBI’s commitment to protect and ensure the safety of families and children is unwavering. We are pleased that these criminals face serious prison time."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is being assisted by the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the Ozark Police Department, the Walton County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dothan Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and other law enforcement partners. This case has been prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kent Brunson and Nathan Stump.
PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
