Quantaz Lamar Shields, age 28, of Leonardtown, Maryland; and Trevone Damone Butler, age 25, of Lexington Park. (somd.com file photos)
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning, Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, and Sheriff Tim Cameron of St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office.
According to the guilty plea and accompanying factual stipulation, between October 20, 2015 and October 28, 2015, the defendant entered multiple locations while brandishing a firearm and stole business proceeds and other items. On November 5, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a location associated with Shields and located a 9mm Beretta handgun with a magazine containing six 9mm live rounds that Shields had used during each of the armed robberies. Law enforcement also located a Samsung flip phone that was used to communicate with the codefendant, Trevone Butler, during one of the robberies. During another search warrant executed at Shields's sister's residence, law enforcement seized over $2,000 in U.S. currency hidden throughout the house. Prior to the warrant, law enforcement obtained a recorded conversation between Shields (who was incarcerated) and his sister, where Shields directed his sister to deposit money into his commissary account from money hidden in her shed.
Butler was previously sentenced on December 2, 2016 to 57 months imprisonment for his role in the robberies.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI and St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who prosecuted the case.
RELATED INFORMATION:
Two Men Indicted for Armed Robbery of 5 Stores in St. Mary's Co., March 24, 2016
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