Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A Miami resident was sentenced, on September 7, 2018, to 32 years in prison by United States District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas for committing a string of armed robberies.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), and Sergio Velazquez, Chief, Hialeah Police Department, made the announcement.

Damon Woodard, 27, of Miami, Florida, previously pled guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of, Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(A)(1)(ii).  Woodard was sentenced to a total of 384 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. 

According to the court record, on December 9, 2017, Woodard robbed Murphy Gas Station in Miami Gardens, Florida, at gunpoint.  On December 13, 2017, Woodard robbed a BP Gas Station in Dania Beach, Florida, at gunpoint. Woodard subsequently robbed numerous other businesses, including two check-cashing stores in Hialeah, Florida with codefendant Suwayne Hylton.  In total, Woodard admitted his involvement in approximately 20 additional armed robberies in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. 

Hylton previously pled guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery.  On July 9, 2018, Hylton was sentenced by Judge Dimitrouleas to 84 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $16,392 in restitution.

This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the ATF, BSO and Hialeah Police Department in this matter.  He also thanked the Davie Police Department, Hollywood Police Department, Hallandale Beach Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, Virginia Gardens Police Department, North Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Gardens Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Pembroke Pines Police Department, and Miramar Police Department for their assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton.

A copy of this press release can be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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