Memphis Man Sentenced to 390 Months in Federal Prison for Two Armed Business Robberies

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Tennessee
14 November 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Memphis, TN – David Gatewood, 44, has been sentenced to 390 months imprisonment for two armed business robberies. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Gatewood committed two armed business robberies between April 18, 2017 and April 21, 2017. In the earlier event, Gatewood used a revolver to rob the MAPCO Express gas station at 1723 Jackson Avenue in Memphis. During that robbery, Gatewood discharged the weapon, injuring a store employee. Later, Gatewood used the same weapon to rob Seguros La Ley, an insurance company, located at 729 N. White Station in Memphis, and fled with approximately $300.

Gatewood pled guilty on July 20, 2018, to two counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury to innocent victims. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and commerce, which victimizes the entire community. As demonstrated in this case, we will not tolerate this senseless gun violence and will use all available resources to remove dangerous offenders from our communities for a very long time. Gun Crime is Max Time."

On November 13, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Gatewood to 390 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.

This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Contact:
Cherri Green
Public Information Officer
Cherri.Green@usdoj.gov
901-544-4231