A Douglas County man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for robbing at least five metro-Atlanta pharmacies and assaulting FBI agents after they thwarted his attempt to rob a CVS Pharmacy in Forsyth County.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash sentenced Kelvonne D. Charleston, 38, of Lithia Springs, to 15 years and 8 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Charleston was also ordered to pay $36,413.15 in restitution for his crimes.
“Getting violent criminals off our streets is our priority for our department,” Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said. “We’re grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for helping make sure our work on the street is followed up by serious prison time for these serious crimes.”
According to U.S. Attorney John Horn in a news release, from late 2013 through May 2015, Charleston robbed “multiple CVS pharmacies and other commercial businesses in the metropolitan Atlanta area” using the same method of operation: he wore a mask or bandana and held up the stores using what “appeared to be a [real] firearm.”
After several investigations that led law enforcement to the same suspect, FBI and local police identified Charleston as the robber, though he was not arrested until May 4, 2015 when he attempted to rob the CVS in Forsyth.
“The FBI and police moved in to arrest Charleston as he attempted to enter and rob a CVS pharmacy in Cumming, Georgia,” the release said. “When the agents identified themselves, Charleston turned toward the agents with what they believed was a real firearm. He then ran from them, got in his vehicle, and drove toward two FBI agents with the pistol in his hand.
Despite being injured, Horn said Charleston fought with agents who were attempting to remove him from his car.
“The defendant was a violent criminal who terrorized ordinary citizens,” he said. “Once he was caught, Charleston thought he could intimidate the FBI and police by driving his car toward them. He hit several cars, injured several law enforcement officers and caused significant damage.”
After placing him in custody, agents found the weapon he used was, in fact, a replica of a real firearm and posed no actual danger.
Agents then performed first aid on Charleston and took him to a local hospital, where he later confessed to robbing several CVS locations.
“The threat of bodily harm, even death, that this defendant posed to every day citizens and law enforcement officials was very real,” said David J. LeValley, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. “Every victim he confronted felt the potential threat of a real gun. It is also clear that he had a complete disregard for human life in his attempt to escape arrest.”