Sioux Falls Man Facing Multiple Firearm Charges After Sioux Falls Robberies
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for two counts of interference with commerce by threats and violence and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
Samuel Oreoluwa Roberts, age 23, was indicted on these charges July 6, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 11, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty for the counts involving interference with commerce is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The penalty for each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is a mandatory seven years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about March 29, 2022, in Sioux Falls, Roberts unlawfully obstructed, delayed, and affected commerce and the movement of articles and commodities in such commerce, by robbery when he unlawfully took and obtained cash from the Get-n-Go, against the will of the employees by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury immediate and future to their person when he brandished a firearm during this crime of violence, demanded money, and forcibly took the money. Then on or about March 30, 2022, in Sioux Falls, Roberts unlawfully obstructed, delayed, and affected commerce and the movement of articles and commodities in such commerce, by robbery when he unlawfully took and obtained cash from the Kum and Go, against the will of the employees by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury immediate and future to their person when he brandished a firearm during this crime of violence, demanded money, and forcibly took the money.
These charges are merely accusations and Roberts is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert is prosecuting the case.
Roberts was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for September 13, 2022.
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