ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — Two men have been sentenced to prison for an armed robbery at a check-cashing business in Chantilly, Va., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, Antonio Chester Lewis, 49, of Oxon Hill, and Al Gibran Taylor, 42, of Reston, entered the store on November 18, 2023, with the intent of robbing it of cash.
Lewis previously went into the store to survey it, court documents show.
According to court documents, Lewis was armed with a semi-automatic rifle which he pointed at customers as he ordered them to put their hands in the air.
Taylor attempted to open a cashier booth, which had the store’s register and safe, according to court documents.
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When Taylor found that the booth was locked, Lewis identified the store’s cashier, grabbed her neck and brought her to the booth, court documents show.
The cashier opened the booth, and Taylor removed a large amount of money from the safe, according to court documents.
Lewis was arrested on March 36 after law enforcement officers searched his home and found the rifle used during the robbery, along with a privately made firearm with no serial number, a shotgun and ammunition, according to court documents.
On April 4, officers also searched Lewis’ vehicle and found a handgun and more ammunition, court documents show.
On June 13, Lewis pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm. He was sentenced on September 3 to 15 years in prison, according to court officials.
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On June 21, Taylor pleaded guilty to use of a firearm and was sentenced Monday, September 24 to 25 years in prison, court officials said.
According to court records, both Lewis and Taylor have multiple prior convictions.
In 1994, Lewis was convicted of possession of cocaine and in 1997 he was convicted of possession of cocaine while armed, court records show. In 2005, Lewis was convicted of possession of 50 or more grams of cocaine.
In 2006, Taylor was convicted of possession of a firearm on two occasions, according to court records.
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