Two men from Beaumont have been sentenced to federal prison following their involvement in a robbery at a local grocery store. Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced the sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on May 13, 2025.
Johnaton Rechard Hite, aged 22, received a sentence of 108 months for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Cody Lane Wilson, aged 28, was sentenced to 30 months for Hobbs Act robbery.
Court documents reveal that on April 11, 2024, law enforcement responded to an armed robbery report at Kidd Grocery Store on Kidd Road in Beaumont. The store clerk reported that an individual with an AR-15 style rifle threatened him and stole approximately $1,340 before fleeing. Surveillance footage identified the suspect as a black male wearing distinctive clothing including a wig and mismatched shoes.
Deputies stopped a vehicle leaving the scene driven by Wilson. Inside his car were wigs and mismatched shoes similar to those worn by the robber. Wilson admitted he was meant to be the getaway driver but fled out of fear.
While deputies questioned Wilson, another call came from near the grocery store about someone knocking on doors. They found Hite hiding nearby with $1,340 in cash next to him.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, which utilizes Department of Justice resources to combat illegal immigration and violent crime through initiatives like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.
