Monday, April 18, 2022 | 5:51 p.m.
LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday to seven years and 10 months in prison for his role in two armed robberies of cellphone stores in the Las Vegas area, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Kejon Ward, 28, pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a violent crime. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey also sentenced Ward to three years of supervised release.
Ward — together with Rushard Burton and another defendant — stole more than 100 cell phones from two stores on April 28 and June 5, 2017. Ward was on parole at that time, having been convicted previously for a similar armed robbery. During each cellphone-store robbery, Ward pointed a firearm at victims inside, and threatened to shoot them if they did not comply with his demands.
During the June 5 robbery, Ward walked into the store, racked the slide of his handgun, and ordered employees and customers to get to the back of the store. Ward then pointed the gun at several customers, while Burton filled a duffel bag with cellphones.
Burton pleaded guilty in August 2021 to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He was sentenced in February 2022 to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release.
This case was a joint investigation by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Henderson Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Burton.