Two San Bernardino brothers have been slapped with hefty prison terms for a fatal armed robbery over pot. Martrell Patrick Shaw, 20, received a 20-year bid, and Rontrell Brainell Shaw, 22, landed 14 years behind bars for their roles in the deadly heist, the Justice Department confirmed.
In July 2021, the Shaw siblings, alongside their cousin, set out to brazenly rob a marijuana dealer—an act that spiraled into murder. Martrell Shaw and Rontrell Shaw conspired to steal the weed under the guise of a purchase, court documents revealed. The deal turned sour when gunfire rang out, leaving the dealer dead, according to a statement by the Justice Department.
The plot unfolded when co-defendant Dillion Jones, 20, ordered a pound of marijuana from the victim, only to reveal a treacherous plan—rob the victim at the point of a gun. With Martrell and Jones in the trenches and Rontrell at the wheel, desperation turned quickly to tragedy.
After the drug dealer was shot in the neck and torso, the Shaw brothers and Jones made off with the goods and dodged the law—for a time. Judge Jesus G. Bernal handed down the sentences Monday, also mandating a $14,342 restitution to the victim's father for funeral expenses. "These defendants' greed and violence led to the death of the victim," United States Attorney Martin Estrada proclaimed, emphasizing the devastating impact on the victim's loved ones.
ATF Los Angeles Field Division's Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bombardiere weighed in, stating, "These violent individuals clearly have no regard for life," his words reflecting the gravity of the crime and its consequences. The sentiment echoed across the justice landscape as a warning to potential criminals that swift retribution is at hand.
While the Shaw brothers begin their prolonged stints in federal prison, their accomplice Jones awaits his fate. Having pleaded guilty in September 2023, he stares down a possible lifetime sentence, with his day in court set for April 1. This case was investigated by the ATF and the San Bernardino Police Department. The assistant U.S. attorney Peter H. Dahlquist takes charge of the prosecution.
