Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison Under Project EJECT for Violent Robbery of Business
Hattiesburg, Miss. – D’Andre Garry, 23, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 50 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing Hobbs Act Robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Garry was also ordered to pay a $3,250 fine.
On March 31, 2019, Garry and a criminal associate robbed a Family Dollar store located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. As Garry’s associate held the cashier at gunpoint, Garry emptied the cash register. The robbery was captured by store surveillance and Garry was quickly apprehended by Hattiesburg Police Department officers.
Garry was indicted for this offense on September 25, 2019. He pled guilty before Judge Starrett on January 9, 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Hattiesburg Police Department investigated the case. The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.
This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
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