Two Men Sentenced for Series of Armed Robberies and Brandishing a Short-Barreled Shotgun

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that two men were sentenced to federal prison for multiple armed robberies, including the armed robbery of Wells Fargo Bank in August 2016.

Kaleem Tikori Fredericks, 24, was sentenced yesterday to serve 130 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, Hobbs Act conspiracy, and Hobbs Act Robbery.  Calel Calvis Alexis Crofford, 25, was sentenced in January 2018, to serve 10 years and 2 days in prison after previously pleading guilty to armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and Hobbs Act conspiracy.

According to court documents, between Aug. 11 and Aug. 18, 2016, Fredericks and Crofford conspired to commit a series of armed robberies.  They pointed a loaded short-barreled shotgun, and a BB gun that appeared to be a real handgun, at customers and employees of a bank, three liquor stores, and a gas station.  They also committed a smash-and-grab theft from a jewelry store.  The series of robberies they committed are as follows:

•     Aug. 11, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Captain Sparrow Liquor Store located at 1100 W. Benson Boulevard, using a short-barreled shotgun;
•     Aug. 14, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Brown Jug Liquor Store located at 525 West Fireweed Lane, using a short-barreled shotgun;
•     Aug. 15, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Tesoro Gas Station located at 545 Muldoon Road, using a loaded short-barreled shotgun;
•     Aug. 15. 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed the Brown Jug Liquor Store located at 119 Klevin Street, using a short-barreled shotgun;
•     Aug. 18, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford stole from the Jewelry World kiosk at the Dimond Center Mall;
•     Aug. 18, 2016 – Fredericks and Crofford robbed Wells Fargo Bank, using a short-barreled shotgun and a BB gun.

Fredericks and Crofford stole a total of approximately $30,954, which they used to entertain themselves and then try to flee Alaska.  Specifically, on Aug. 18, 2016, Fredericks and Crofford drove to Girdwood, Alaska, and disposed of the short-barreled shotgun, a backpack, and some of the clothes worn during the armed robberies.  On that same day, they had purchased airline tickets and traveled to the Ted Stevens International Airport together in order to flee to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Anchorage Police Department (APD) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Anchorage Airport Police, leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas Walker.