Dearborn Jewelry Thieves Take Plea Deals

DEARBORN, MI — Three Detroit men have accepted plea deals in connection with a Warren Avenue jewelry store robbery last December. Uriel Drake, Martez Lyons and Denzell Bunkley accepted the deals from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office earlier this month. Dearborn Police said the three men brutally attacked a store employee and then stole numerous items from display cases.

Police officials announced the plea arrangements at a Monday press conference at the Dearborn Police Department. Drake pled nolo contendere to robbery and felony firearm and was sentenced to 5 to 20 years in prison. Lyons pled guilty to armed robbery and was also sentenced to 5 to 20 years. Bunkley pled guilty to felony firearm and was sentenced to two years.

Police reports said at about 1 p.m. on Dec. 21, the three men entered the jewelry store near Schaefer Road in Dearborn. They posed as customers, with one disguised as a female wearing a full robe and hijab. Reports said an employee was pistol-whipped while several display cases were smashed and numerous items were stolen.

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The suspects then fled the scene in an older model red Chevrolet Cavalier Convertible. A patrol officer from a nearby jurisdiction was able to develop valuable information which he provided to Dearborn detectives, police said. Drake, 26, Lyons 19, and Bunkley, 24, were arrested at their residences in Detroit.

Dearborn Detectives executed search warrants and recovered the Cavalier and numerous pieces of evidence. Police believe the three men are responsible for several other violent crimes in Dearborn and surrounding communities.

Photos of Uriel Drake, Martz Lyons and Denzell Bunkley provided by the Dearborn Police Department