Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Alleged Member of Robbery Crew Convicted of Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition
Memphis, TN – After a three-day trial, a federal jury has found a Memphis man guilty on one-count of felon in possession of ammunition. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on November 21, 2016, Tavares Clayborn, 28, was in the area of Hampton Place and South Orleans Street in South Memphis with a group of his friends when an argument ensued. Clayborn shot the friend he was arguing with, striking him once in the leg. When Memphis Police Department officers responded to the scene they found eight spent shell casings of 7.62 X 39 millimeter Tulammo ammunition, as well as a backpack containing a 50-round drum magazine.
As an armed career criminal, Clayborn faces a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence.
Clayborn has also been charged with several counts of affecting interstate commerce by robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and using a firearm in the commission of robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The robbery charges stem from a string of robberies of delivery truck drivers in which cigarettes were taken over a period of 11 months in 2016 to 2017. Clayborn’s trial on these charges is set for July 2018. If convicted on the robbery charges, he faces 360 months up to life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Violent crime reduction remains the top priority of this office and the Department of Justice. The ammunition charge is evidence of the aggressive approach by this office to removing the worst of the worst from our streets. This jury verdict finding this armed career criminal guilty demonstrates that the community is Fed Up with repeat offenders who have dedicated their lives to lawlessness and violence.”
Marcus Watson, ATF Special Agent in Charge said: “This conviction is a result of the combined efforts of Memphis and Germantown Police Departments along with the community working together to reduce violent crime. ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence focused on the shooting incident from a known robbery crew that endangered the local neighborhoods.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Marques Young are prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
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