Four people from Jacksonville were sentenced Monday, June 29, 2026, to long federal prison terms after pleading guilty in a string of armed robberies that targeted Dollar General stores across the city in spring 2024. Prosecutors said the group hit multiple locations before their run ended in the Brentwood area.
Long Federal Terms for a Coordinated Crew
Tresonda Benefield, Nathanial Carter and Jackeri Lewis were each sentenced to 16 years and one month in federal prison, while Jakeithiyan Daniel received 14 years and six months. All four were also ordered to repay the roughly $11,000 taken from the four stores, and Dollar General said it is “committed to providing a safe environment for employees and customers,” according to News4JAX.
Federal Charges Filed by U.S. Attorney
The four were federally indicted on conspiracy and Hobbs Act robbery charges, along with counts for brandishing firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. A Project Safe Neighborhoods case summary from the office lists Benefield, Carter, Daniel and Lewis among Jacksonville defendants facing armed robbery and brandishing counts and outlines the federal charges and potential penalties as prosecuted in the Middle District, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Brentwood Stop, Shots Fired and Evidence Recovered
The robberies occurred between April 9 and May 1, 2024, and prosecutors say the crew hit Dollar General stores on Main Street, Fort Caroline Road and Yellow Bluff Road before the Brentwood incident. Local reporting and a police briefing stated that officers stopped a vehicle near 3800 N. Main St., and an officer fired at the getaway car after a suspect raised a firearm, according to Action News Jax. Police later said searches turned up three guns, ski masks, more than $3,500 in cash and stolen merchandise, News4JAX.
Legal Notes on Hobbs Act Robbery
Hobbs Act robbery is an interstate commerce statute commonly used in federal prosecutions of store robberies. In this case, the robbery counts and firearm enhancements raised the stakes and moved prosecution to federal court. The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods listing from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida sets out the federal counts and potential maximum penalties in the district, which helps explain the multi year terms imposed by the judge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
