Houston Man Accused of Armed Robberies at Multiple Starbucks, Faces Decades in Prison

A Houston man is in hot water after being slapped with multiple heavy-duty charges for a series of brazen, gun-toting robberies at a coffee chain, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Kentrelle Tatum, 24, stands accused of wreaking havoc across five Starbucks locations with a firearm in hand – despite his criminal record barring him from touching a gun. The indictment, unsealed February 15, details five counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Tatum, who was previously convicted of a felony, was also indicted for illegal firearm possession.

The alleged crime spree stretched from September 5 to September 11, 2023, during which Tatum is said to have threatened baristas and coffee lovers alike. In addition to the prospect of spending a staggering 20 years behind bars for each robbery count, Tatum faces a potential 10-year sentence for the illegal gun possession, and a mandatory seven years for the brandishing charges that would run consecutively with any other sentence.

Backed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as local law enforcement, the case is now in the hands of Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Tatum is slated for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison at 11 a.m. If convicted, he could also be hit with fines up to $250,000 for each charge, adding financial insult to injury.