Four Portsmouth Residents Charged in Gold Shop Conspiracy

NORFOLK, VA—Montarius Murry, 19, Kevin Stevens, Jr., 19, Xavier Holley, 19, and Raneisha Sifford, 20, all of Portsmouth, Virginia, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges relating to an October 2010 conspiracy to rob the Gold Shop in Portsmouth, Virginia. All four were charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Murry, Stevens, and Sifford were also charged with attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery and a related firearms offense from an October 5, 2010 attempt to rob the Gold Shop. Murry, Stevens, and Holley were also charged with attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm causing death from the October 6, 2010 attempt to rob the Gold Shop.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed today. Murry, Stevens, and Holley face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty. Sifford faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to the indictment, from October 5 - 6, 2010, Murry, Stevens, Holly, and Sifford conspired to rob the Gold Shop located on Portsmouth Boulevard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Murry, Stevens, and Sifford attempted to rob the Gold Shop on October 5, 2010. Murry, Stevens, and Holley attempted to rob the Gold Shop on October 6, 2010. During that attempt, a firearm was used and discharged, resulting in the death of Robert Nelson.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Portsmouth Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Fitzwater and Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin L. Hatch are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.