Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

HOUSTON – A 23-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for his role in organizing and planning a string of Houston-area armed robberies, including one in which someone was almost killed, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Tadarius Robinson pleaded guilty Aug. 8, 2018. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller sentenced Robinson to 120 months for his role in the robberies. He also received another 120-month-term for aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during commission of a crime of violence which must be served consecutively. The total 20-year sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

In imposing the sentence, the court found Robinson to be the leader and organizer of the robbery crews that had committed the crimes within the span of one month in late 2015. Robinson had picked the locations, recruited the members and acted as a lookout or getaway driver for the robberies. 

Co-defendants Reshaun Lee Jenkins, 25, James Daniel Henderson, 24, Ashton Armstrong, 24, Cedric L. Andrews, 44, Joseph Adams, 34, and Bradley Alexander, 28, all of Houston, pleaded guilty for their respective roles and were sentenced previously. Jenkins and Armstrong both received 141 months in prison, while Henderson, Andrews, Adams and Alexander received 255, 33, 36, and 147 months, respectively.

Mik Yia Shua Faye Durden, 22, of Livingston, and Travescy Cauley, 27, of Beaumont, also pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. 

Robinson and Alexander took part in one robbery which targeted Gagne’s Auto Repair Shop at 6404 Tidwell on Sept. 9, 2015, which resulted in the theft of U.S. currency and one employee being chased from the store. 

Robinson, Alexander and Armstrong then participated in the robbery of a T-Mobile store located at 10730 Eastex Freeway on Sept. 27, 2015. Armstrong had entered the store, while Robinson and Alexander waited in the getaway vehicle. The robbery resulted in the theft of U.S. currency and cellular phones.

Three days later, Jenkins, Henderson, Armstrong, Durden and Alexander robbed the El Mexsal Taqueria located at 5797 North Sam Houston. Henderson, Cauley and Armstrong ordered the employees and customers to the ground at gunpoint, while Durden and Jenkins drove getaway cars. Alexander acted as a lookout during the robbery.  

Robinson, Jenkins, Adams, Henderson, Andrews and Alexander then committed the armed robbery at the Wing Stop restaurant located at 10749 North Freeway on Oct. 2, 2015. Henderson entered the store with a gun drawn. When an employee did not immediately get down on the ground, Henderson shot him, causing permanent bodily injuries. Andrews and Adams were inside the restaurant during the robbery, while Robinson, Alexander and Jenkins sat outside acting as lookouts and the getaway driver. Alexander disassembled the firearm after the shooting and threw pieces out of the car window as they fled the scene.

Finally, Armstrong, Durden and Alexander then robbed Movie Magic at 6520 Airline on Oct. 9, 2015. Armstrong robbed the store at gunpoint. As they fled the scene and Durden drove the getaway car, Alexander fired his gun at a civilian who was chasing the robbers. Armstrong attempted to fire at the civilian but his gun jammed. 

The case is an example of coordination between law enforcement who are part of the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative. The goal is to proactively fight and reduce violent crime across the Greater Houston area by targeting the region’s most violent offenders, augmenting investigative and prosecutorial efforts, and enhancing training, public awareness and education.

The cases are brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted the investigation in conjunction with the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case. 

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