A Jefferson County couple has been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an attempted armed robbery of a convenience store in Nederland, Texas. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Cole Ethan Schroeder, 21, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He received a sentence of 114 months in federal prison from U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on May 21, 2025.
Carley Melana Fowler, 21, of Nederland, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on July 29, 2025.
Court documents state that on September 2, 2024, Schroeder and Fowler entered the Citgo Food Mart convenience store and gas station in Nederland while wearing face masks. Fowler carried a bag and placed an object in the doorway to prevent it from closing completely. She stood next to Schroeder with the bag open as he displayed an AR-style rifle and ordered the store employee to put money into the bag. A struggle broke out between the employee and the defendants; Schroeder struck the employee several times with the rifle, causing injuries. Both fled without taking any money but were arrested by law enforcement at a nearby RV park.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives worked alongside local law enforcement agencies including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Nederland Police Department in investigating this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy Coleman prosecuted.
