3 Rolex Watch Armed Robbery Crew Members Sentenced

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI – The final three of four Philadelphia men who are part of a high-end jewelry store robbery crew were sentenced in federal court Friday to 33 years in prison each for their roles in the April 2014 armed robbery of a West Bloomfield jewelry store, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said.

Last week, the three men’s co-conspirator, Nathaniel Pembrook also was sentenced to more than three decades in prison.

David Briley, 47, Shaheed Calhoun, 36, and Orlando Johnson, 42, were convicted along with Pembrook of a variety of charges, including conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by force, interference with interstate commerce by force, use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and being felons in possession of firearms after a four week-long trial in November and December 2015.

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McQuade said evidence produced at trial showed that all four men lived in Philadelphia and traveled to Michigan on April 21 and 22, 2014,to commit armed robberies of jewelry stores, particularly targeting Rolex distributors, as part of a six-person robbery crew.

This armed robbery crew initially attempted to steal Rolex watches and other valuables from Medawar Jewelers in Grand Rapids, at approximately 12:28 p.m. on April 22, 2014, prosecutors said.

The store owners, who are registered concealed pistol owners, shot the armed robber, and all of the robbers fled without any valuables.

About five hours later, three men, dressed in identical clothes as the robbers in Grand Rapids earlier that day, entered Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield, and held employees and customers at gunpoint as they stole approximately $1.3 million worth of Rolex watches.

The men then fled the store without being apprehended.

Samples of Pembrook’s blood, containing DNA, were found at Medawar Jewelers. Investigators discovered that Pembrook checked himself into Pennsylvania Presbyterian Hospital in the early morning hours of April 23, 2014, complaining of a gunshot wound.

The bullet removed from Pembrook’s arm matched the ammunition fired from the gun the Medawars owner had fired. Video and cell phone information also helped place the men from Philadelphia crew at the robbery locations in Michigan.

Court records show that these men had a long history of committing larcenies and armed robberies, McQuade said. Briley has 17 prior convictions, Calhoun has eight and Johnson has 13.

“We are grateful for the outstanding coordination by law enforcement agencies across state lines to put this case together.” McQuade said in a statement. “Armed robbery creates an unacceptable risk of harm to the public, and we are pleased that these men will be off the streets for a long time.”

Two other suspects remain at large. Anyone with information about them is asked to cal; the FBI.