Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Texas
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
4 Sentenced for Roles in Local Meat Market Armed Robberies
HOUSTON – Four Houston area men have been sentenced for their involvement in a string of robberies of La Michoacana establishments that occurred during the Christmas 2015 season, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Billie Hawkins, and Laroderick Martin, both 21, Jirron Curtis, 22, and Marcus Malbro, 19, pleaded guilty at varying times between November 2016 and May 2017 to aiding and abetting two robberies and one count of either discharging or brandishing a firearm.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ordered Hawkins to serve a total of 330 months in federal prison - 210 months for the two robberies and 120 months for discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence which will be served consecutively. In imposing the sentence, Judge Miller considered Hawkins role as a leader in the robberies. Curtis and Martin received 60 and 50 months, respectively, for the robbery convictions, in addition to consecutive sentences of 120 months for discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence for a total of 180 and 170 months in prison. Malbro was ordered to serve a 154-month term of imprisonment, which includes 70 months for the two robberies and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. In handing down the sentences, Judge Miller considered the roles in the offense, the facts that firearms were used and the way the victims were treated. Each will also serve three years of supervised release following completion of their prison terms and were further ordered to pay restitution to La Michoacana Meat Markets and Barri Financial Group.
The men robbed Houston Area La Michocana Meat Markets, to include the Barri Financial Group Kiosks within the store, from Dec. 21, 2015, though Dec. 30, 2015. In each robbery, they were armed, masked and often fired shots as they entered the store. The defendants usually scouted the stores prior to the robbery to ensure there were no guards or security. They would typically drive a stolen vehicle to commit the robbery and then meet a co-conspirator to depart in a “switch” vehicle.
All have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case.
Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ordered Hawkins to serve a total of 330 months in federal prison - 210 months for the two robberies and 120 months for discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence which will be served consecutively. In imposing the sentence, Judge Miller considered Hawkins role as a leader in the robberies. Curtis and Martin received 60 and 50 months, respectively, for the robbery convictions, in addition to consecutive sentences of 120 months for discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence for a total of 180 and 170 months in prison. Malbro was ordered to serve a 154-month term of imprisonment, which includes 70 months for the two robberies and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. In handing down the sentences, Judge Miller considered the roles in the offense, the facts that firearms were used and the way the victims were treated. Each will also serve three years of supervised release following completion of their prison terms and were further ordered to pay restitution to La Michoacana Meat Markets and Barri Financial Group.
The men robbed Houston Area La Michocana Meat Markets, to include the Barri Financial Group Kiosks within the store, from Dec. 21, 2015, though Dec. 30, 2015. In each robbery, they were armed, masked and often fired shots as they entered the store. The defendants usually scouted the stores prior to the robbery to ensure there were no guards or security. They would typically drive a stolen vehicle to commit the robbery and then meet a co-conspirator to depart in a “switch” vehicle.
All have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case.
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