A Mississippi man, identified as Ladarius Jaleel Snipes, 27, has been handed down a sentence of over 12 years in federal lockup for his involvement in a violent robbery and gun violations, the U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed. The felonies include carrying out a Hobbs Act robbery, having a stolen firearm, and being part of a scheme to make false statements during the purchase of another gun.
Documents from the court reveal Snipes collaborated with Kendarrius Keshaun Willard and Anna Trameri Novacheck to illicitly obtain weapons through straw purchasing. The trio hit up a federal firearms dealer on November 1, 2021. Under guidance from her accomplices, Novacheck lied on official papers to acquire an Alex Pro model Econo 5.56 caliber semiautomatic pistol, which was actually for Snipes and Willard, the latter being a previously convicted felon barred from possessing firearms.
Snipes’ crimes didn't stop there, as he was caught on camera on January 5. A doorbell cam caught the burglar as he broke into a St. Paul residence, where he stole another weapon and heartlessly shot the homeowner's dog. He was later busted for a ruthless armed robbery at a Cleveland, Mississippi restaurant in August 2021, where he fired his gun to intimidate the workers after flaunting the weapon and demanding cash.
For his long list of crimes, Snipes pled guilty on August 31, 2023, earning himself a sentence of 155 months, followed by five years under the watchful eye of the law, as handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank. An investigation by several agencies, including the ATF and local police departments, led to the resolution of the case, with the prosecution helm carried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Robert Mims. Snipes' co-conspirators Willard and Novacheck have also faced the music, with Willard getting 90 months and Novacheck getting a probation sentence, cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
