“Old Navy Crew” Robbers Sentenced to Hundreds of Years in Prison

March 26, 2010 - FRESNO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced MARCUS MAJOR, 24 and JORDAN HUFF, 25, both of Fresno, today to 746.25 and 745 years in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; conspiracy to use, carry, brandish and discharge firearms during a crime of violence; seven counts of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence; 23 counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; and 30 counts of interference with commerce by robbery. MAJOR received a sentence enhancement for obstruction of justice when he committed perjury during testimony at trial. The defendants had been found guilty by a jury on December 22, 2009.

This case was the product of a joint investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as part of the U.S. Department of Justice Project SAFE Neighborhoods initiative. They were also assisted by the FBI, the Madera Police Department, and the Madera Sheriff’s Office.

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Kathleen A. Servatius, who prosecuted the case, MAJORS, HUFF, and four other co-defendants committed a series of 30 armed robberies between December 24, 2005 and July 24, 2006. The defendants were dubbed the “Old Navy Crew” because surveillance videos showed one of the robbers in a sweatshirt with “Old Navy” printed on the front. The four other defendants pleaded guilty before the case went to trial.

The evidence at trial established that HUFF orchestrated the robberies and acted as a lookout and getaway driver, and MAJOR and others entered convenience stores, liquor stores, and other businesses brandishing firearms and demanding cash. The evidence established that HUFF shot at a store clerk on January 20, 2006 at the ampm market in Madera. This is his second conviction for crimes related to gun violence. MAJOR discharged his firearm either at or near victims in multiple robberies, including shooting the owner of Mickey’s Liquor in the abdomen resulting in serious injuries on April 3, 2006 in Fresno.

“The brazen acts of a violent few brought fear and terror into the community. The long sentences these two received today serve as a warning to other would be criminals,” stated U.S. Attorney Wagner. “When local and federal law enforcement team together, they are a formidable force in the effort to reduce violent crime.”

In sentencing, Judge O’Neill said that the defendants lacked respect towards the victims, taunted the police, and hid behind masks, “It shows your contempt for civilized society and I’m going to do what I need to do to take you out of society because you are not civilized.” The Judge told the defendants that they didn’t have any bounds of decency, that they didn’t have any mercy on their victims, they shot at people, they indiscriminately fired at people, they struck people with their guns. The Judge said, “You two are terrorists in the simple meaning of that word; you terrorized your victims. You simply wanted money and it wasn’t just adult victims, there were children terrorized too.” The Judge said that the evidence in the case was overwhelming—it was not close.