DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Joyce White Vance
, United States Attorney
Contact: Peggy Sanford

Tuscaloosa Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for String of Armed Robberies

BIRMINGHAM -- A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Tuscaloosa man to 25 years in prison for a string of armed robberies in Tuscaloosa in 2012, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Hyche.

U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced DeMARDUS TARVER, 21, to just over four years in prison on the robbery charges, to be followed by nearly 21 years in prison on weapons charges associated with the robberies. Tarver pleaded guilty to four robberies under the federal Hobbs Act, which involves robbery affecting interstate commerce, and to using or brandishing a firearm during two of those robberies.

According to court records, Tarver robbed the following Tuscaloosa stores: Family Variety, 911 East Crescent Ridge Road, on Oct. 21, 2012; Buddy's Food Mart, 14439 Alabama Highway 69, on Oct. 21, 2012; Fast Stop, 2601 Fosters Ferry Road, on Nov. 14, 2012, and Raceway Service Station, 940 Veterans Memorial Parkway, on Nov. 14, 2012. Tarver discharged a gun during the Fast Stop robbery and brandished a gun during the Raceway Service Station robbery.

ATF investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. James Weil Jr. and Joseph P. Montminy prosecuted.

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Nashville Field Division