On December 20, 2024, U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger sentenced Jameise Vaughn Christian, 22, of Washington, D.C., to 12 years and 10 months in federal prison. Christian was convicted of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm during two armed jewelry store robberies in Paterson, New Jersey, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Court documents revealed that Christian was part of a criminal group based in Washington, D.C., that targeted South Asian jewelry stores along the East Coast. The group sought these businesses specifically for their high-purity gold inventory, which could be resold for significant profit. The robberies were meticulously planned, with the group using disguises, firearms, hammers, and coordinated vehicles to execute the crimes.
Paterson Robbery
On October 25, 2022, Christian and co-conspirators Trevor Wright, William Hunter, Keith McDuffie, and another individual traveled from Washington, D.C., to a jewelry store in Paterson, New Jersey. Upon arrival, Christian and two accomplices, wearing masks and armed with firearms and a hammer, entered the store while the others acted as lookouts. Inside, they smashed display cases and held store employees at gunpoint, forcing them to lie face down on the floor. Within two minutes, they stole approximately $1.9 million in jewelry before fleeing the scene.
Jacksonville Robbery
Less than two months later, in December 2022, Christian and his group, including Wright, Avery Fuller, Antonio Tate, and Jaylaun Brown, traveled to Florida for another robbery. After renting a black BMW and a white Mercedes in Miami, they drove to Jacksonville on December 6, 2022. Arriving at the jewelry store, Christian and three others entered the store armed and in disguises, forcing employees to kneel behind the counter with their heads down. Using a hammer, the group smashed glass display cases and stole approximately $880,000 worth of jewelry.
As the robbery unfolded, a lookout in the BMW honked the horn to signal their exit. Christian, before leaving, approached the store employees, pointed his firearm, and stole the store owner’s wallet. The group loaded the stolen jewelry into the BMW and fled, with the white Mercedes following closely behind.
Arrest and Sentencing
Through surveillance footage and investigative efforts, law enforcement identified the group and traced them to a condominium in Miami. Authorities observed the suspects exiting their vehicles without masks and carrying the stolen jewelry. Christian and others were subsequently arrested.
Several co-conspirators have already faced justice.
- Delontae Martin and Antonio Tate pleaded guilty to brandishing firearms during the Jacksonville robbery. Martin received a sentence of 108 months, and Tate was sentenced to 120 months.
- Avery Fuller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robberies in Jacksonville and New Jersey, along with brandishing a firearm. He awaits sentencing and faces a minimum of seven years to life in prison.
- Trevor Wright and Jaylaun Brown are currently in custody, awaiting trial in Washington, D.C., for robbery and firearm offenses.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Miami Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The collaborative effort, which included surveillance and evidence analysis, helped dismantle the group’s operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirwinn Mike is prosecuting the case.
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