NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Newport News couple with 12 counts of robbery and two counts of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to allegations in the indictment, Christopher Robertson, 33, and Aquilla Jones, 38, conspired together to commit a series of robberies in Virginia Beach, Newport News, York County, Chesapeake and Spotsylvania County.
According to the indictment, Robertson and Jones, along with unnamed co-conspirators agreed to rob these local businesses:
Date
Business
Sept. 24, 2013
Gulf Gas Station, 2120 Plank Road, Fredericksburg
Oct. 1, 2013
Captain D’s, 2626 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg
Oct. 6, 2013
Big Lots, 4318 George Washington Highway, Yorktown
Oct. 8, 2013
Fast Mart, 5166 Mudd Tavern Road, Spotsylvania
Oct. 13, 2013
Food Lion, 7100 Salem Fields Blvd. Spottsylvania (Attempt)
Dec. 4, 2014
Citgo Gas Station, 780 J. Clyde Morris Ave., Newport News
Dec. 6, 2014
Shell Gas Station, 600 Hampton Highway, Yorktown
Dec. 6, 2014
Hop and Shop, 12961 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News
Dec. 8, 2014
Shell Gas Station, 10732 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News
Dec. 10, 2014
Smoke Shop, 3115 Western Branch Blvd., Chesapeake (Attempt)
Dec. 11, 2014
Mini-Mart, Green Meadows Drive, Virginia Beach
Dec. 12, 2014
Gulf Gas Station, 2120 Plank Road, Fredericksburg
Dec. 13, 2014
Subway Restaurant, 9817 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg
Robertson and Jones are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, and Hobbs Act robbery. Each faces a mandatory minimum of 32 years in prison with a maximum of life in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
