Early risers looking for a peaceful breakfast were met with terror, as a trio of armed men reportedly swept through two Houston diners in back-to-back robberies last October. Christopher Djuan Roberts, 27, Xavier Edward Jones, 28, and Wesley James Thomas, 29, have been charged with multiple offenses related to these violent encounters, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
The indictment, returned on Jan. 24, paints a scene of fear and urgency with the men committing their alleged pre-dawn crime spree starting at a Waffle House on Rankin Road and then hitting a Denny's on North Freeway immediately afterwards. According to the charges, the suspects flashed handguns, threatening and stealing from both staff and patrons. The stakes are high for the accused—armed robbery carries weighty sentences, particularly when compounded by past transgressions; Roberts and Thomas, previously convicted felons, could face an even harsher fate if found guilty of these new federal gun charges.
In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it was announced that Roberts and Jones are scheduled for detention hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. Thomas, already in custody elsewhere, will be transported to Houston to face his charges in due time. The trio could face up to life imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and up to 20 years for the robbery charges. Furthermore, the convicted felons could be looking at an additional sentence of up to 15 years for unlawful firearm possession.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Hrach, with a collaborative investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Strike Force, which speaks to the severity of the incident and commitment to justice. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department also played roles in bringing the indictment forward. However, it's important to note that an indictment is not a conviction: the accused have the right to a fair trial, where they must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Still, the arrests have at least momentarily stemmed the tide of violence that patrons of these diners endured one alarming morning last fall.
