Las Vegas, Nevada - A California man was sentenced Monday to 13 years and six months in prison for committing four armed robberies (including two banks and the same Starbucks coffeehouse twice), stealing more than $14,000.
In May 2021, a jury convicted Shamariae Marshon Jones (25), of Pasadena, California, of one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced Jones to three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the five-day trial, between December 2016 and January 2017, Jones and co-conspirator Edwin Arnold Jr. robbed two banks and a Starbucks coffeehouse, stealing a total of $14,280. During each robbery, Arnold brandished a handgun at employees, demanded money, and threatened to shoot if they did not comply. On January 26, 2017, the FBI's Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Jones and Arnold when the two drove back to Arnold's residence immediately after committing their latest robbery.
Arnold was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence. In January 2022, he was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Reese prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN.