A federal jury sitting in Victoria has returned a guilty verdict against a 27-year-old Houston man for armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Jordan Javon Ashton following a three-day trial.
The robbery took place at the Morelos Supermercardos in Victoria on October 31, 2023, and involved a stolen vehicle with stolen plates and a stolen gun.
On that Halloween evening, Latrayveon McNeal and Jerrell Potts – wearing masks and brandishing firearms – entered the supermarket and approached the Barri money services counter. They pointed weapons and yelled at the cashier, store employees and customers. Fearing for their lives, the employees complied with demands and provided U.S. currency and a large amount of cashed checks.
McNeal and Potts fled in a stolen white truck and met up with Ashton, who was armed and waiting for them a few blocks away from the store. Ashton then drove the robbers from the scene, leaving the white truck in the middle of the road with the motor still running.
The jury saw numerous exhibits, including several photographs and surveillance video from the supermarket, the weapons used in the crime and heard excerpts of 911 calls made on that day.
They also heard that Ashton had previously been convicted of a felony and was on parole during the commission of this crime.
The defence attempted to convince the jury that he withdrew from the conspiracy. They did not believe those claims and found Ashton guilty as charged.
McNeal, 26, and Potts, 25, both of Houston, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the crime. Potts received 87 months in federal prison, while McNeal is pending sentencing.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 29. At that time, Ashton faces up to 20 and 15 years for the robbery and the firearms charges, respectively, as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
