Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Texas

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Serial Armed Robbers Known as “Bulls Cap Bandits” Sentenced to Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences

DALLAS — Two Dallas men, Cedric Ray Jones, 27, and his brother, Damien Antoine Jones, 31, were sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to lengthy federal prison sentences for committing several violent armed robberies in Dallas in 2014, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Cedric Jones was sentenced to 573 months, and Damien Jones was sentenced to 708 months in federal prison.  Each pleaded guilty late last year to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, two counts of using, carry, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, and three counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

Co-conspirator, Savalas Christopher Love, 32, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count and one firearm count.  He is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

The FBI dubbed the robbers the “Bulls Cap Bandits,” as Cedric and Damien Jones wore Chicago Bulls caps during the robberies.  

According to documents filed in the case, from approximately March 7, 2014, through June 17, 2014, the defendants conspired together to commit these armed robberies:

March 7, 2014  and June 12, 2014            Cash Plus Pawn, 9103 East R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas

May 28, 2014                AutoZone,            10418 Garland Road, Dallas

June 2, 2014                 AutoZone              2842 South Buckner Blvd., Dallas

June 17, 2014              AutoZone              9711 Plano Road, Dallas

During each of the robberies, Cedric and Damien Jones wore disguises and brandished firearms.  In the March 7, 2014, robbery of Cash Plus Pawn, they stole cash and two semi-automatic rifles, and then fled on foot.

In the May 28, 2014, and June 2, 2014, AutoZone robberies, Cedric and Damien Jones entered the store, brandishing the semi-automatic rifles, while Love remained in the vehicle as the “getaway driver.”  The three fled in Love’s vehicle.

On June 12, 2014, Cedric and Damien Jones, Love, and another individual traveled to the Cash Plus Pawn store on East R.L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas, in Love’s vehicle, with the specific intent to commit robbery.  Upon arriving in the parking lot, Damien Jones and the other individual exited the vehicle and approached the store’s entrance with firearms, but abandoned the robbery when confronted by a store employee.  They fled in Love’s vehicle.

In the June 17, 2014, AutoZone robbery, Cedric and Damien Jones traveled together in Love’s vehicle to the store with the intent to commit robbery.  Love traveled separately to the location.  Love “cased” the store and reported the absence of security personnel to Damien Jones.  Cedric and Damien Jones then entered the store, brandishing semi-automatic rifles, and then fled the robbery in their vehicle.  During a subsequent chase with law enforcement, Cedric Jones operated the vehicle in a manner to avoid apprehension and created a substantial risk to other motorists on the roads.  During the pursuit, shots were fired in the direction of the pursuing officers to further avoid apprehension.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Dallas Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Robinson was in charge of the prosecution.

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