Third Defendant Sentenced in Trading Post Robbery

PHOENIX, AZ—On Monday, January 9, 2012, Garrison Gorman, 22, a member of the Navajo Nation Indian Tribe was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to 51 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to armed robbery. Co-defendants Jercelo Jim and Charles Yazzie had earlier pleaded guilty and been sentenced on the same charge; Jim was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment and Yazzie was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment.

On July 7, 2010, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, Gorman, along with co-defendants Jim and Yazzie, entered the Round Rock Trading Post. The three defendants were dressed all in black, two were wearing bandanas to cover their mouths, and Gorman was carrying a rifle. Gorman pointed the rifle at the victim, and demanded the victim give them all of his money. The victim placed the cash drawer on the counter and Gorman grabbed all of the cash. The defendants stole additional items from the store before they fled. They were apprehended later that same day.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Department of Public Safety. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Green, District of Arizona, Phoenix.