Degregory Lee sentenced to federal jail for Montgomery theft spree

A federal choose on Friday sentenced Degregory Deon Lee to 17 decades in federal prison for his part in 7 days-prolonged string of business robberies in October 2016. 

U.S. District Courtroom Judge Myron Thompson sentenced Lee to 205 months and 3 a long time of supervised launch.

Prosecutors on Friday advisable Lee obtain 20 several years for the robberies, in which 19 unique folks were being robbed. Lee’s lawyer questioned for a lowered sentence, arguing a traumatic childhood, compound abuse challenges and mental issues led to Lee committing the robberies under “mind-boggling” intoxication.

The criminal offense spree integrated the robberies of 10 Montgomery businesses:

• Hyundai Sector Retail outlet on Woodmere Boulevard, Oct. 24, 2016
• Midori Sushi Bar on Woodmere Boulevard, Oct. 24, 2016
• Alabama Hotel on Monticello Push, Oct. 25, 2016
• King Backyard garden Cafe on Atlanta Highway, Oct. 26
• San Marcos Cafe on North Burbank Travel, Oct. 26
• China King Cafe on Zelda Highway, Oct. 30, 2016
• Tai Ji Acupressure retail outlet on Minnie Brown Road, Oct. 30, 2016 
• Satsuki Japanese Restaurant on Atlanta Highway, Oct. 30, 2016
• El Campesino 2 on North Jap Boulevard, Oct. 31, 2016
• New China Restaurant on Harrison Road, Oct. 31, 2016

Lee’s co-defendant, Diamond Markayla Mathis, was sentenced in 2019 to 11 many years for her function in 6 of the robberies. 

Prosecutors on Friday stated Lee brandished a gun in each of the robberies. Nevertheless, Lee’s legal professional explained he did not bodily injure any target, however Mathis used pepper spray from an employee In Mathis’ case, proof was offered that she applied pepper spray in opposition to an worker at one site and threated other victims with a knife. At the Alabama Lodge, Mathis also struck an employee with the pepper spray canister.

In accordance to court documents, the spree began at the Hyundai Current market on Woodmere Boulevard where Lee and Mathis held up two men and women thieving three cell telephones, two checks, $57 at gunpoint and $150 from the register.

Minutes afterwards, Midori Sushi and Bar was robbed of $200 at gunpoint.

The pursuing working day, Lee and Mathis robbed an Alabama Resort clerk. The up coming working day, Lee alone stole $300 from King Garden’s sign-up, $1,000 from San Marcos’ sign-up and $500 from a person inside of San Marcos at the time.