BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
Derrick Rashard Gloude, 24, pleaded guilty on Sep. 23, 2021, to Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to a total of 240 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to court documents, from November 9, 2020 through November 16, 2020, Gloude robbed six businesses and attempted to rob another in Beaumont. The stores were all engaged in interstate commerce and employed clerks who were engaged in the commercial activities of the stores at the time of the robberies. The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery affecting interstate commerce. In each of the robberies, Gloude brandished a purple pistol and pointed it at the clerks when demanding money.
After receiving a CrimeStoppers tip, investigators were able to develop Gloude as a suspect. A review of Gloude’s public Facebook page showed photos of Gloude wearing clothes matching the clothing reported by the clerks in each store. Additionally, Gloude’s Facebook showed pictures of him brandishing a purple handgun and flashing fans of cash. The pistol was recovered after Gloude’s arrest and determined to have been reported stolen in Beaumont.
“If you carry or use a gun and commit a felony crime, we will seek the highest punishment we can on you,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Violent crime, especially those crimes where a firearm is used, is at the top of our priority list. We, and our state, local and federal law enforcement partners will work tirelessly together to protect our community by arresting and prosecuting violent offenders.”
“This is just another great example of how we can be more effective in law enforcement when we work together,” said Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary. “Our relationships with our federal partners are so valuable in larger investigations like this to put our criminals away for an extended length of time. We certainly cherish these relationships.”
“Removing the criminal element that illegally uses firearms to commit violent crime is a top priority of the ATF,” Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski said. “The ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the communities we serve to remove the criminal elements that negatively impact our communities.”
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is being investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn.
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