United States Attorney Trent Shores announced that Treveon Montrell Vaughn, 27, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty today to obstructing commerce by robbery and to brandishing a firearm during six different robberies at local donut and Dollar General stores.
Vaughn committed the armed robberies between June 24, 2018, and Aug. 17, 2018, and at one point committed three robberies in one day. In each of the robberies, Vaughn wore a mask and brandished a firearm, threatening store employees and stealing cash from registers. Vaughn’s crime spree ended when Tulsa police officers were called to the scene of a robbery in progress at a Dollar General store on Aug. 17, 2018, and Vaughn became trapped inside the store. At one point during the resulting stand-off with officers, the defendant started a small fire, trying to destroy evidence. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody. He eventually admitted to influencing and leading a group of juveniles into his criminal activity, stating they would do anything for money.
“Treveon Vaughn was a brazen, violent criminal. He instilled fear in his victims by making threats and using physical violence. During one robbery, he slapped a customer and fired his gun at the business owner. The Tulsa Police Department is to be commended for stopping Vaughn before his actions resulted in severe injury or death," said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Project Safe Neighborhoods is an initiative reinvigorated to target those criminals who repeatedly use violence and create instability and danger within neighborhoods. Vaughn is one of those perpetrators, and he was held accountable today for his criminal actions. This initiative is most successful when law enforcement, prosecutors, community groups and citizens work together to keep our communities safe."
As part of the plea agreement, Vaughn will pay restitution to the businesses.
Vaughn will be sentenced in United States District Court on Feb. 11, 2019, by U.S. District Judge John E. Dowdell. Vaughn faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The Tulsa Police Department and the FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Roberts is the prosecuting attorney.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
