Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JERMAINE DORE, a member of a violent robbery crew operating in the Bronx and Westchester County, New York, was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 65 years in prison. DORE and his co-defendant Dwayne Barrett were convicted in March 2013 of murder, robberies, and firearms charges after a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan, who imposed today’s sentence.
DORE was sentenced based on his convictions on the following seven counts: (1) participating in a conspiracy to commit robberies from 2010 through January 2012; (2) using, carrying, or possessing firearms in connection with the robbery conspiracy; (3) committing a robbery on Oct. 29, 2011, at an apartment on Radcliff Avenue in the Bronx, New York; (4) using, carrying, or possessing firearms in connection with the October 29 robbery; (5) committing a robbery on Dec. 12, 2011, in the vicinity of 267 South Fourth Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York; (6) using, carrying, or possessing firearms in connection with the December 12 robbery; and (7) causing the death of Gamar Dafalla, one of the victims of the December 12 robbery.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Jermaine Dore marauded across Pennsylvania, the Bronx and Westchester County in a series of violent robberies against local merchants, including one cold-blooded attack that left a victim dead. A jury found him and his co-defendant Dwayne Barrett guilty, and now Dore has paid for his crimes with a steep sentence."
According to the Superseding Indictment and the evidence presented at trial:
Between August 2011 and January 2012, DORE and Barrett participated in nine separate robberies. They carried out those robberies, using weapons - including firearms and knives - to injure, terrorize, and in one case murder, one of their victims. The nine robberies were:
* A robbery that took place on Aug. 22, 2011, in Matamoras, Pennsylvania, during which an individual who owns a gas station and store was assaulted and robbed of approximately $45,000 in business proceeds;
* A robbery that took place on October 5, 2011, in the Bronx, New York, during which two individuals who sell telephone calling cards to bodegas, grocery stores, and other commercial locations, were robbed of approximately $700;
* A robbery at knifepoint that took place on Oct. 10, 2011, in the Bronx, New York, during which the employee of a bodega was robbed of a cellphone and laptop computer;
* A robbery at knifepoint that took place on Oct. 11, 2011, in New Rochelle, New York, during which an individual who sold telephone calling cards was beaten and robbed of more than $6,000 and telephone calling cards valued at approximately $6,000;
* A robbery at gunpoint that took place on Oct. 29, 2011, of an individual who owns a poultry market in the Bronx, New York, during which approximately $15,000 in business proceeds were taken;
* A robbery at gunpoint on Dec. 12, 2011, in Mount Vernon, New York, during which the defendants attempted to rob three victims engaged in the business of selling cigarettes to other individuals and commercial establishments, and shot and killed one of the victims;
* A robbery that took place on Dec. 12, 2011, in the Bronx, New York, during which an individual employed by a company that sells tobacco products to commercial establishments was threatened with a gun and a knife and robbed of more than $15,000;
* A robbery that took place on Dec. 31, 2011, in the Bronx, New York, during which an individual who sold telephone calling cards was beaten and robbed of approximately $3,000 and 100 telephone calling cards; and
* A robbery at knifepoint that took place on January 7, 2012, in the Bronx, New York, during which an individual who owns a business that supplies merchandise to bodegas was assaulted and robbed of approximately $1000.
In addition to DORE, 26, of the Bronx, New York, Judge Sullivan is scheduled to sentence Barrett on Sept. 25, 2013. Barrett faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Three other defendants pled guilty to related charges prior to trial: Fahd Hussain, Taijay Todd, and Tameshwar Singh. Hussain was the operator of One M Stationery Store, located on White Plains Road in the Bronx, New York, who exploited his relationships with other business owners, including individuals who supplied Hussain’s store with telephone calling cards and other merchandise, personal friends, and family members in targeting the robbery victims. Many of the victims were business owners and members of the Yemeni community in New York City, as was Hussain. Todd participated in several of the robberies with DORE and Barrett. Singh was a business associate of Hussain who engaged in the transportation of untaxed cigarettes. Hussain, Todd, and Singh are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sullivan on Sept. 11, August 8, and August 9, 2013, respectively.
Mr. Bharara praised the New York Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Police Department for the City of New York for their work in this investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being overseen by the Office’s Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Lester and Jessica Masella are in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
