A man has been sentenced to 28 years in state prison for robbing a local CEFCO gas station. Ladarius Makel Armstrong, 23, was convicted by a jury in June.
“We came in for sentencing yesterday and after hearing the arguments, the judge sentenced the defendant to 28 years on the armed robbery charge and 10 years on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge, to run concurrently, which means at the same time,” said Lauderdale County Asst. District Attorney Philip Weinberg, who prosecuted the case.
Authorities said in September 2015, Armstrong went into the store, threatened a clerk at gunpoint, and demanded money and some of the store’s merchandise.
“It was less than $100 I think, in fact, it was less than $50,” said Weinberg.
Armstrong also took some cigarettes and cigars and then left the scene in a vehicle that was driven by somebody else.
“There was a woman in the store, not the victim, who was a customer and did not actually see the incident, but she saw him leave and was suspicious of that when the clerk said, ‘I’ve been robbed,’” explained Weinberg.
The woman followed the vehicle and gave police a description. After being taken into custody, Armstrong eventually confessed to the crime. Circuit Judge Justin Cobb also ordered Armstrong to pay $2,000 in fines, $500 in restitution to the Mississippi Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.
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