Two Chattanooga youths are facing lengthy federal prison sentences after pleading guilty in Federal Court to back-to-back armed robberies, including one in which a gun was fired.
Antonio Quintez Wynn and Jamereus Quashun Benford pleaded guilty in connection with holdups at two different Lee Highway locations on Aug. 9 and 10, 2011.
Wynn, based on his record, is facing 25 years to life. He was 20 at the time of his arrest.
Benford, who was 19 at the time he was taken into custody, faces 10 years to life.
Wynn will be sentenced on Feb. 25 and Benford on March 4.
They appeared before Federal Magistrate Court Judge Bill Carter.
In the robbery on Aug. 9, 2011, at Quick Loans at 6215 Lee Highway, the manager said two armed men entered the business and demanded money. They put her and two female employees in a storage closet while they searched for cash.
The pair took approximately $1,700 from the business.
They also took the manager's car keys at gunpoint and stole her 2008 Honda Accord.
Then on the next day they robbed the Family Dollar at 7307 Lee Highway. In that holdup, Benford discharged a gun because the clerk was not filling the bag with money fast enough.
After that holdup, Benford was stopped by police in a silver 1997 Lexus with a black ragtop in the 3700 block of Wilcox Boulevard. Officers could see a black handgun, a camouflage type mask and a Family Dollar bag in plain view.
Police also found $720 cash and a jacket worn during the robbery in the car.
Police located Wynn at 3402 Frawley St. He opened the door to the residence wearing only a towel. He asked police to get him his clothes in an upstairs bedroom. In a bag in the bedroom were clothes worn during the robbery and a cell phone taken during the holdup.
They gave confessions after they were taken to police headquarters.