Man convicted in string of armed robberies at area businesses
Image: Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
Image: Lexington County Sheriff's Department
Lexington, SC (WOLO) — The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department has announced the arrest and conviction of an Irmo man for seven armed robberies at area businesses in the span of one week. According to authorities, 36 year old Deveon Antonio Belk of Irmo has been found guilty in the armed robbery of seven Midlands businesses following a bench trial lasting several days.
The U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis gave her ruling Thursday during the Federal trial. In court, Belk was found guilty of 15 counts, seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery, seven counts of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, and one count of being a Felon in possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
The following locations listed below are businesses the court had evidence to prove Belk robbed at gunpoint between November 9 and November 16, 2020.
• Robbery 1 – Nov. 9 at Wendy’s at 95 Woodcross Dr., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 2 – Nov. 10 at Dollar General at 6246 Two Notch Rd., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 3 – Nov. 11 at Family Dollar at 4524 Monticello Road, Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 4 – Nov. 13 at CVS at 4627 North Main St., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 5 – Nov. 15 at Dollar General at 536 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 6 – Nov. 15 at SKS Mart at 1615 Decker Blvd., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 7 – Nov. 16 at Dollar General at 7145 Broad River Rd., Irmo, S.C.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s General Office, Belk drove a unique black Saturn sedan they say was used in many of the robberies.
Evidence produced during the trial showed how Belk pulled of his string of robberies. Officials saying his M.O. would be to park the black sedan within walking distance of the business. Once inside prosecutors say he would act like he was about to purchase a small item with cash. Once the register opened that’s when authorities say he would pull a black and silver 9 mm Ruger pistol before pointing the gun at the clerk and demanding money.
Officials say there were 13 victims who testified during the trial some whom were forced to the back of store and in at least one incident forced inside a closet before casually walking out of the store right passed unassuming incoming customers. Prosecutors say Belk changed clothing at or in the vicinity of at least four of the businesses he was caught on surveillance robbing. Those pieces of clothing contained his DNA as did the gun authorities say was used in all of the incidents.
Just 24 hours after his final armed robbery November 17, 2020 deputies executed a search warrant at a Lexington apartment they say Belk was staying in and took him into custody. Inside of the apartment authorities say the located the 9mm gun, shoes they say he wore in a good portion of the robberies and park at the residence, the black Saturn.
While Belk was convicted of committing seven of those armed robberies, a notice was filed on the public docket stating that Belk may also be responsible for at least six more armed robberies at the following locations from the month before.
• Robbery 8 – Oct. 20 at Speedway at 637 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 9 – Oct. 21, 2020 at Shell at 441 Piney Grove Rd., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 10 – Oct. 25, 2020 at Shell at 6930 North Main St., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 11 – Oct. 26, 2020 at S&S Mart at 8303 Winnsboro Rd., Blythewood, S.C.
• Robbery 12 – Oct. 31, 2020 at Speedway at 637 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia, S.C.
• Robbery 13 – Nov. 16, 2020 at BP at 8404 Two Notch Rd., Columbia, S.C.
A sentence has not yet been handed down by the judge, but with the charges he has been convicted of he faces a mandatory minimum of 49 years in prison for Brandishing a Firearm in connection with a crime of violence. Not including any additional time he may face for the robberies and possession charges.
Belk faces a mandatory minimum of 49 years in federal prison following the firearm brandish in connection with a crime of violence convictions, plus any additional term of imprisonment he receives for the robberies or the firearm possession count.
U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Adair F. Boroughs released a statement surrounding the conviction saying,
“This conviction highlights the good work of local law enforcement,” … “A violent offender was terrorizing multiple communities and this partnership and coordination will keep him behind bars.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department, with critical assistance from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
