PRESS NOTICE

W. WALTER WILKINS

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

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1441 Main Street * Suite 500 * Columbia, SC 29201 * (803) 929-3000 *

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October 7, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN F. MCDONALD      (803) 929-3000

MAN SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS FOR UPSTATE CONVENIENCE STORE ROBBERIES

Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Vincent Shamont Rogers, age 19, of Spartanburg, was sentenced in federal court to 730 months for his involvement in a series of robberies last December. Rogers was found guilty at a trial last July of three counts of robbery and three counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Cameron Anderson, Rogers codefendant, was also found guilty at trial and will be sentenced at a later date. A third man, Christopher Clayvon, pled guilty and testified against Rogers and Anderson at trial. Clayvon was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment last August.

Evidence at trial established that on December 21, 2007, Rogers and Clayvon entered the Sunoco Gas Station at 2391 Reidville Road in Spartanburg. Rogers brandished a Tec-9 type firearm, and held the store's clerk at gunpoint, while Clayvon went behind the counter and grabbed money from the cash register. Cameron Anderson drove the car used in the robbery. The robbery was captured on the store surveillance system and was presented to the jury.

On December 28, 2007, Rogers and Clayvon entered the Kangaroo Express at 691 North Pine Street in Spartanburg. Rogers again brandished a firearm and held the clerk at gunpoint. Rogers and Clayvon took money from the cash register of the store. This robbery was also captured on the store surveillance system. Anderson drove the car used in the robbery and provided the gun used by Rogers. The next day, on December 29, 2007, Anderson and Clayvon entered the L'il Cricket Convenience Store at 847 Battleground Road in Cowpens. Clayvon brandished a firearm while Anderson and Clayvon took money from the cash register. Rogers drove the car used in the robbery. The store was equipped with a surveillance system which captured the robbery.

On December 30, 2007, Clayvon entered the 221 Convenience Store at 3900 South Church Street in Spartanburg. He brandished a firearm provided to him by Anderson and held the clerk at gunpoint while grabbing money from the cash register. Anderson drove the getaway car. The robbery was captured on the store's surveillance system.

After reviewing video of the 221 Convenience Store robbery, store employees and law enforcement identified a white Mitsubishi used in the robbery. The car was located later that day and Anderson and Clayvon were arrested.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, and Spartanburg Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office handled the case.