Memphis, TN – Corey Ray, 37, and Rodriguez Jones, 27, have been sentenced to a total of 40 years in federal prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence and interference with commerce by robbery. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, the victim posted a firearm for sale on Armslist.com and began corresponding with Corey Ray. The victim, along with his roommate, and Ray agreed to conduct the sale at Jesse Turner Park in Memphis, Tennessee.
On June 12, 2019, the victim met Ray in the parking lot of the park. After agreeing to purchase the firearm for $620, Ray then walked into the park to retrieve some cash for the transaction and did not return for several minutes. The victim eventually called Ray to ask if he was planning to return to purchase the firearm. A short time later, Ray returned with Rodriguez Jones and a second suspect. The two new subjects were armed with handguns and approached the victim’s vehicle. The victim was forced at gun point to the trunk to remove the pistol box and the two magazines. The victim’s roommate then exited the vehicle and fired his own personal firearm. During the shootout, one of the robbers was killed. The victim’s roommate was shot in the left leg.
The victim and other witnesses identified the defendants as the armed suspects responsible for the robbery. Both Jones and Ray admitted to their participation in the robbery. The defendants later pled guilty.
On November 30, 2021, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Ray to 240 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. Jones was sentenced on December 3, 2021, to 240 months in federal prison to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Marques Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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