Two Shreveport Men Sentenced for Robbing Businesses in Louisiana and Texas

A Shreveport federal judge has sentenced two young Shreveport men to hundreds of years in federal prison after they were found guilty in a string of armed robberies in northwest Louisiana and northeast Texas.  

Federal Judge Elizabeth Foote has sentenced 21-year-old Myles Robinson to 314 years in prison and ordered him to pay $17,681.31 in restitution.  She's also sentenced 22-year-old Halston Smith to 138 years in prison and ordered him to pay $8,033.31 in restitution.

After a four-day trial in January of this year, Robinson was found guilty of all 27 counts of the indictment against him and Smith was found guilty of 13 counts.  They were accused of robbing 15 businesses in Shreveport, Bossier City, Stonewall, Oil City, and Atlanta, Texas, between June 1, 2012 and November 14, 2012 and taking in excess of $20,000 during those robberies.  Federal prosecutors say that in some of those robberies, money was taken from employees and patrons in addition to the businesses.  In most of the robberies, one or more firearms were used.  In at least one robbery in Caddo Parish, a firearm was discharged into the ceiling of a business.

In addition to Robinson and Smith, federal prosecutors say two other men also took part in those robberies. In June of last year, 22-year-old James Tyson pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.  A month later, 24-year-old Tremario Washington pled guilty to the same charges.  In February of this year, Tyson was sentenced to 111 months in federal prison and Washington was sentenced to 108 months.  Both also received three years of supervised release.

"Over many months, the men involved in these robberies terrorized employees and customers of the businesses targeted, and now they must face the consequences of their destructive and violent activity," said U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley.  "This case demonstrates how effectively law enforcement agencies can work together to bring criminals to justice."  She's thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Shreveport Police Department, the Caddo Parish Sheriff's office, the Desoto Parish Sheriff's Office, the Bossier City Police Department, and the Atlanta, Texas, Police department for their help in the investigation.  She's also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Cowles and Seth Reeg for prosecuting the case.