A Houston man has been sentenced to a seven-year prison term for his role as a getaway driver in an armed robbery that took place on Halloween of 2023. Jordan Javon Ashton, 28, was convicted of armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. After less than two hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, a jury found Ashton guilty on February 20, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release.
The sentencing took place before U.S. District Judge David S. Morales, who imposed an 84-month sentence and three years of supervised release to follow. The impact of Ashton's crime was brought home during the hearing, where a robbery victim detailed the ongoing trauma they're experiencing as a result, including nightmares and anxiety. Similarly, the owner of the stolen truck used in the robbery conveyed the fear that his family now lives with, highlighting that his son was particularly affected by the loss of his toys during the theft.
On the night of the robbery, co-conspirators Latrayveon McNeal, 27, and Jerrell Potts, 25, also of Houston, robbed Morelos Supermercados in Victoria while armed with firearms and using a vehicle, gun, and license plates that were reported stolen. The two, donning masks, threatened employees and made off with cash and checks from the store. Ashton, also equipped with a weapon and on parole at the time, facilitated their escape by driving the stolen white truck away from the scene. Surveillance footage, photographs, and 911 call recordings presented during the trial helped establish Ashton's involvement in the crime.
Despite the defense’s efforts to persuade the jury that Ashton had withdrawn from the conspiracy, their arguments were ultimately unsuccessful. Ashton's past felony conviction and parole status at the time of the incident were also presented. He will now await transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, which has yet to be disclosed. McNeal and Potts, who had previously pleaded guilty to their parts in the robbery, were both sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. The conviction resulted from an investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Victoria Police Department, the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney's Office of Victoria County, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuting the case.
