Two men from Atlanta have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in the armed robbery of a jewelry store in Greenville, South Carolina. Tony Nico Clark, aged 35, received a nine-year sentence, while Dedrek Jaquon Hale, aged 30, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years.
The incident occurred on May 17, 2023. According to evidence presented during the investigation, three men executed the robbery at a Greenville jewelry store. Clark entered the store first without wearing a mask and held the door open for two masked accomplices who followed him inside. These individuals brandished handguns and ordered everyone present to lie on the floor.
During the heist, one of the masked robbers used a hammer to break display cases while Hale used his firearm to smash glass cases. Surveillance footage captured them pointing guns at employees and customers as they took jewelry from the broken displays. Meanwhile, Clark monitored time until they had to leave. The trio then fled in a waiting vehicle back to Atlanta.
Law enforcement officials linked Clark and Hale to the crime through DNA and other physical evidence. They were apprehended in October 2024 and pleaded guilty in March this year to charges of robbery and conspiracy affecting interstate commerce as well as using firearms during a violent crime.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Clark to 110 months in prison and Hale to 115 months. Both sentences include five-year terms of court-ordered supervision following imprisonment since there is no parole option within the federal system. Additionally, each defendant has been ordered by the court restitution payments exceeding $140,000.
The FBI’s Columbia field office led this investigation with support from both Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and Greenville Police Department efforts; Assistant U.S Attorney Chris Schoen prosecuted this case successfully.
