Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Jaquin Jamal Pratt, 20, and Nikita Shontel Taylor 26, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina to 10 year imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release and 87 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release respectfully.

 

PRATT and TAYLOR were named in a Superseding Indictment filed on September 19, 2018, charging them with interference with commerce by robbery. On December 12, 2018, and November 14, 2018, respectively, PRATT and TAYLOR each pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce.

 

On November 27, 2017, PRATT and TAYLOR robbed Saslow’s Jewelry in Wilson, North Carolina. They zip-tied employees then stole jewelry items valued at over $25,000. On December 8, 2017, PRATT and TAYLOR robbed Swift’s Fine Jewelry in Knightdale, North Carolina. Once again they zip-tied employees and stole jewelry valued above $30,000.

 

U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon commented: “We are extremely pleased with the sentences imposed by the Court. While we cannot fully restore the victims in this case because they will always have to live with the fear and memory of being tied up and robbed. We hope the Court’s sentence will bring some measure of comfort and will deter others from committing similar crimes. And, of course, for the next seven plus years, these defendants won’t be in a position to threaten or harm anyone else.”

 

This case was initiated through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

 

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Knightdale Police Department, Wilson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Erin Blondel handled the case on behalf of the government.