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

FLORENCE ARMED ROBBER PLEADS GUILTY

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. WALTER WILKINS stated that Tracey Scott Rich, age 38, of Timmonsville, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court to armed robbery and using a firearm in the commission of the robbery. Rich's co-defendant, Richard Powell, previously pled guilty and agreed to a 25-year sentence.

In the early morning hours of November 14, 2007, Powell and Rich robbed the Markette at 6515 East Palmetto Street in Florence. The men then attempted to rob nearby Breakers, at 2819 West Palmetto Street, by trying to enter the locked doors of the store while armed with a gun. Later that same day, the two robbed Passions Video, 4713 West Highway 76, in Marion. During all of the robberies, the men threatened and pointed guns at the victims.

That evening, Powell and Rich stopped at the South Florence Exxon, located at 3099B on South Irby Street in Florence. Unbeknownst to them, a Sheriff's deputy who had just watched a video of one of the earlier robberies was inside the station. The deputy recognized the two immediately, called for backup, and placed the men under arrest. In their car, deputies found 2.7 grams of crack, a loaded .22 caliber rifle, a .38 caliber pistol, and the ski masks and clothes worn in the robberies.

The case was investigated by the Florence County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting the case as part of Project CeaseFire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office that seeks to aggressively prosecute gun-related crimes.