Federal Court Sentences Louisiana Man to 13 Years in Armed Robbery Spree
Bracelon Armon Charles, 22, of Sunset, Louisiana, was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for brandishing a firearm during twin armed robberies at Vinton, Louisiana, convenience stores in October 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr., stems from a robbery spree that escalated into a multi-state law enforcement pursuit.
The Crime Spree
On October 6, 2023, Charles and a juvenile accomplice used a stolen 2018 Kia to drive from Lafayette to Vinton, approximately 50 miles to the west. At approximately 4:30 p.m., they entered Tiger Mart, a gas station and convenience store, brandished firearms, and demanded money from the clerk. After receiving $400, they proceeded to More 4 Less, another Vinton store, repeating the armed robbery and stealing an additional $400.
Cross-State Pursuit
The pair fled into Texas, triggering a high-speed chase with law enforcement that crossed back into Louisiana. Officers apprehended Charles and the juvenile, who was charged separately in juvenile court. Federal prosecutors emphasized Charles’s use of a firearm during the robberies, a federal crime carrying mandatory minimum sentences under the Hobbs Act, which targets robbery or extortion affecting interstate commerce.
Legal Proceedings
Charles pleaded guilty to using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, a charge that typically results in consecutive sentencing to underlying robbery charges. The case was investigated by the FBI and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Gardner leading prosecution.