RICHMOND, Va. – A Denver, Colorado, man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for committing at least two armed robberies of commercial businesses.
According to court documents, Lloyd E. Rhodes, II, 59, committed robberies at establishments both in Richmond and in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On August 3, 2019, Rhodes entered the Old Chicago restaurant, located in Colorado Springs and asked to speak with the restaurant manager. Rhodes was armed with a Taurus handgun and pointed the firearm at the manager and demanded money from the safe. The manager attempted to run out of the office and close and lock the door, but a struggle between Rhodes and the manager ensued, during which Rhodes discharged the firearm at the manager, striking him in the hand. After shooting the manager, Rhodes fled the scene.
On March 13, 2020, after traveling to Richmond, Rhodes entered the Virginia Horseplay, an off-track betting facility, and was seen interacting with other customers for several hours. Once the employees took the cash proceeds into an adjacent room to count the money from the evening business, Rhodes entered the room, displayed what appeared to be a firearm, and ordered the two employees onto the floor. In fear for their lives, the employees relinquished the money they had been counting. Rhodes then proceeded to empty the nearby safe, which contained additional cash proceeds from Virginia Horseplay. In all, Rhodes took over $40,000 in U.S. currency. As part of the plea agreement, the Colorado authorities agreed not to pursue four additional robberies in their jurisdiction.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Duffey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-139.