4 Columbia Men Plead Guilty to Robbery, Gun Charges

Four Columbia men who were arrested in October 2012 pleaded guilty this past week to conspiracy to commit robbery and other gun and drug charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 

Jacquan Olando Jones, 23, Travis Howard, 33, Vernon Davis, 23 and Eddie Wilbert Mobley, 26, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a Hobbes Act robbery. 

The men also pleaded guilty to other charges:

• Jones, Mobley and Davis pleaded guilty to use/possession of firearms during and in furtherance of a crime of violence and/or drug trafficking crime. 
• Jones and Mobley pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 
• Jones pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a quantity of marijuana. 

Evidence presented at the earlier change of plea hearings established that on September 18, 2012, Jones, a prohibited felon, sold two handguns, ammunition, and a quantity of marijuana to a confidential informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). 

Jones then told the confidential informant about a robbery of kilogram amounts of drugs, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He told the informant that Howard, Davis and Mobley were going to conduct the robbery while armed with firearms.  

On October 30, 2012, agents with ATF arrested Howard, Mobley and Davis while they were on their way to the robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Inside the vehicle, agents recovered two shotguns, a .40 caliber handgun and pepper spray. 

Jones, Howard, Mobley and Davis each have prior state convictions and are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Davis and Jones are suspected Bloods gang members. 

The conspiracy to commit Hobbes Act robbery charge carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. The use/possession of firearms during and in furtherance of a crime of violence and/or drug trafficking crime charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The possession with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana charge carries a maximum of five years imprisonment and $250,000 fine.       

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of Columbia accepted the guilty pleas and will impose the men's sentences after she has reviewed their presentence reports, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases.  Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.