St. Louis, Missouri — Deon Walker, 27, and Samuel Nance, 33, have both been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a series of armed robberies of two Dollar Stores in St. Louis County in October 2022.
U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk handed down the sentences after both men pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges. Walker received a sentence of 11 years and nine months, while Nance, from Black Jack, Missouri, had previously been sentenced to 14 years in July.
Both men admitted guilt to two counts of robbery and one count of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. The robberies took place on the evening of October 9, 2022.
The first robbery occurred around 6:00 p.m. at a Dollar Store in Berkeley, Missouri. According to court documents, Walker and Nance, wearing hooded clothing and black ski masks, entered the store. When an employee requested they remove their hoods, Walker brandished a black handgun, pointing it at employees and customers, demanding money, and ordering everyone to the floor.
During the chaos, one customer managed to escape with two children. Nance emptied a cash register, while Walker grabbed a customer at gunpoint and forced her to the front of the store. The duo then took money from a second register, approximately 18 packs of Newport cigarettes, and about $481 in cash.
About 90 minutes later, the pair struck again at another Dollar Store in Ferguson, Missouri. This time, Walker pointed a gun at the cashier and demanded money, while Nance blocked a customer from leaving. Walker took the entire cash drawer, and the two men fled with approximately $486.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Berkeley Police Department conducted a joint investigation into the robberies, leading to the convictions.
