DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of Georgia

For Immediate Release

Thursday, January 7, 2016
John A. Horn
, United States Attorney
Contact: Bob Page

Clayton County Man Sentenced in Violent Multi-County Armed Robbery Spree

ATLANTA – Anthony Paul Smith has been sentenced 18 years, six months in federal prison for a series of violent armed robberies of six small businesses that he committed in Clayton County, and Henry County, Georgia. 

 “The hard working citizens of our community deserve to feel safe and secure at their workplaces,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Horn.  “The defendant’s numerous acts of violence against multiple victims, including several who knew him, show a complete disregard for people’s lives.   The sentence should reassure citizens of our District that we will find, prosecute, and ultimately remove from the community those who place others in danger through their own violent acts.”

“This investigation and sentence is another example of ATF remaining on the frontline of preventing violent crime through excellent cooperation with our law enforcement partners.  Through this cooperative effort we were able to apprehend and successfully prosecute a violent and dangerous individual who posed a significant threat to the public,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Schmidt.

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court:  Between December 10, 2013, and January 14, 2014, Smith committed the listed six armed commercial robberies and theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee: 

  • December 10, 2013 - Smith entered Papa John’s Pizza store located in Jonesboro, Georgia.  He approached employee, L.C., and demanded money from her at gunpoint.  During the robbery, Smith also grabbed employee B.M. around the neck, placed the barrel of the gun to her neck, and said “I want the money.” Smith threatened to shoot both B.M. and L.C., and fled the restaurant after stealing $1,500.

  • January 5, 2014 - K.D., an employee of Boost Mobile located in Jonesboro, Georgia, reported to Clayton County Police officers that a man robbed her at gun point of $2,000 while she stood at the cash register.  K.D. identified Smith as the armed robber, who she recognized as a former customer at the store. During the robbery, Smith took K.D.’s personal cell phone, ordered her to remove all the money from the cashier drawer, and demanded that she unplug the landline phone in the office and go to the back of the store.

  • January 7, 2014 - Smith committed an armed robbery of a Metro PCS store in Stockbridge, Georgia.  Just after the robbery, employee K.K. met with investigators and stated that Smith had entered the store several minutes before the robbery and inquired about an iPhone.  K.K. identified Smith as the individual who robbed him at gun point of $6,785. 

  • January 8, 2014 - Smith entered Forest Park Army and Navy store located in Forest Park, Georgia, a federal firearms licensee, and stole a Ruger pistol. Surveillance video footage from the store captured images of Smith during the burglary.

  • January 9, 2014 - Smith entered Big D’s Tobacco and Gifts located in McDonough, Georgia.  He approached employee T.F. at the customer counter, pointed a silver handgun at her, and demanded money.  Smith left the store after stealing more than $400 from T.F. T.F. recognized him as a recent customer.

  • On January 11, 2014 - Smith committed an armed robbery of Metro PCS located in Jonesboro, Georgia.  He approached employee K.H., cocked and pointed a gun at her, and demanded money from the store’s register and safe.  K.H. recognized Smith as a former high school classmate.  Smith fled the store after stealing $3,767.

  • On January 14, 2014 - Smith entered another Metro PCS store in Jonesboro, Georgia.  He approached employee A.G., pointed a silver revolver at her, and stole $939, as well as a Samsung Galaxy phone, Samsung Galaxy Tablet, and the store’s cordless phone.

Anthony Paul Smith, 24, of Jonesboro, Georgia, was sentenced on January 6, 2015, to 18 years, six months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution of $16,000. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Clayton County Police Department and Henry County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. and Suzette Smikle prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

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Atlanta Field Division