A Revere man has been handed a nine-year prison sentence for the armed robberies of two local convenience stores in the Boston area, occurring within a week of each other last year. Jaquan Barrows, 27, received the sentence yesterday following his December 2024 guilty plea to charges encompassing Hobbs Act robbery and the use and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Details of the events provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office detail that Barrows, donning a mask and orange safety vest, struck first on March 29, 2024, menacing a clerk with a handgun, demanding cash, and physically assaulting the employee before leaving with stolen items, including an ice cream bar. In less than a week, Barrows appeared to attempt to blend in as a shopper at an Everett convenience store. However, after being prompted to pay, he once again revealed a weapon, forcing the clerk to hand over money before fleeing.

An investigation trailed a Honda Pilot involved in the Revere robbery back to an accomplice's residence where Barrows was living. Swiftly, surveillance pointed to Barrows as the suspect in a matching outfit. This led to an April 4, 2024, search of his home which unearthed clothing identical to that worn during the robberies, as well as a handgun, just as the U.S. Attorney's Office described. Barrows was subsequently arrested.

The successful prosecution and ensuing announcement were the result of collaborative effort. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Boston's Special Agent in Charge, Jodi Cohen, jointly declared the sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit, with "valuable assistance" provided by the Revere and Everett Police Departments, as the U.S. Attorney's Office stated. Following his term behind bars, Barrows is to also undergo three years of supervised release.