ATLANTA - Laquan Smith was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for the armed robbery of eight businesses and for possession of a stolen firearm.
“Over a short three-week span in December 2011, this defendant-who was already on state parole for armed robbery and on bond for burglary-went on an armed robbery rampage in the Memorial Drive area, going so far as to tie up his victims during three robberies," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “With this conviction and sentence, his life of crime on the streets has ended for the foreseeable future.
“The criminal history of Smith shows a complete and utter disregard for the law and lives of others," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer. “As an agency and unified law enforcement community, we will not tolerate armed violent felons terrorizing and reducing the quality of life in the neighborhoods where we live, work, and play."
“The sentencing of Laquan Smith exemplifies the joint commitment of local and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure violent offenders are brought to justice and are not allowed to continue to victimize our community. This type of lawless behavior is not acceptable and we are steadfast in our efforts to arrest those who engage in such crimes," said DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: From December 8 through Dec. 27, 2011, Smith, who was aided by Troy Thomas in two robberies, robbed eight different businesses, including two Dollar General stores on Dec. 20, and 27, 2011; three Family Dollar stores on December 8, 14, and 22, 2011; Pet Supermarket on Dec. 18, 2011; Orbit Video on Dec. 19, 2011; and a Subway on Dec. 22, 2011. During the robberies, Smith took a total of approximately $7,410. Smith was arrested two weeks after the Dec. 27, 2011, Dollar General robbery, after an alert individual recorded the license plate number of the getaway car used in that robbery and reported it to law enforcement.
Smith, 24, of Stone Mountain, Ga., was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard W. Story to serve 18 years in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and fined $900. Smith was convicted of these charges on Jan. 31, 2013, upon his plea of guilty.
Troy Thomas, Smith’s co-defendant who participated in two of the robberies, was sentenced to 11 years, 2 months on April 29, 2013, by Judge Richard W. Story.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the DeKalb County Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Plummer prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
