Deputy United States Marshal One Of Three Indicted As Part Of Armed Robbery Crew
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Clorenzo Griffen, 37, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Miami residents Andrew Jamison, 39, and Rodney Rackley, 24, charging them with robbery, drug conspiracy, and brandishing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking.
All three defendants have made initial appearances in federal court and been ordered detained. They are scheduled to be arraigned on November 6, 2014.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2014, a California Highway (CHP) officer in Sutter County attempted to stop a speeding Jeep Patriot. The three defendants eventually abandoned the vehicle, and were subsequently taken into custody with the assistance of the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department. At the time of his arrest, Griffen possessed a loaded .40-caliber firearm. Further investigation revealed that Griffen is a deputy United States Marshal from Miami, Florida.
Court documents further indicate that before fleeing from the CHP, the defendants had robbed three individuals at gunpoint of approximately 24 pounds of marijuana.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, Yuba City Police Department, and the Sutter County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the robbery and drug trafficking charges and a $1 million fine. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison that must run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the robbery or drug charges. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
