Three Peoria men have been handed federal prison sentences for their roles in the armed robbery of a confidential informant during a federal firearms investigation last year. Hunter Coombs, Germaine R. Hill, Jr., and Rashon J. Miller were all sentenced this past week after each pleaded guilty to robbery charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.
Coombs, age 24, was sentenced on June 3 to 46 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Similarly, Hill, 26, received an identical sentence of 46 months on June 5. Miller, the youngest at 25, received a more severe punishment due to an additional charge for using a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced on June 5 to a total of 84 months imprisonment and will face four years of supervised release once his term is completed.
The men admitted to planning the robbery ahead of their meeting with the informant. The government informant was led to believe they had an automatic weapon for sale, but upon arrival, he was instead robbed at gunpoint of $1,200, the intended purchase money. Officials from the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force quickly responded, arresting the trio and recovering both the money and two loaded semi-automatic firearms. "All three men admitted that they discussed and planned the robbery prior to meeting with the informant," as stated in the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.
These sentences conclude a case that originated with complaints in early June 2023, followed shortly by an indictment. The defendants, who have been incarcerated by the U.S. Marshals Service since last May, faced serious potential penalties. For the charges of robbery of money in the United States, they could have received up to 25 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Miller’s additional firearms charge carried a term of seven years to life imprisonment, consecutive to his robbery sentence. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports the task force involved in the investigation includes members of several law enforcement agencies, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the arrests and prosecution.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aiming to reduce violent crime. Launched anew in 2021, PSN's strategy builds on community trust, prevention efforts, and focused law enforcement to combat violence and gun crime. These recent sentences underscore the ongoing commitment to this initiative, hinting at the broader, continued fight against violent crimes in communities across the country.
