Greenville Felon Pleads Guilty to Multiple Armed Robberies Outside of Upstate Hotel

Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Dominique Romando Turner, age 24, of Greenville, South Carolina, entered a guilty plea in federal court to “Conspiracy to Carry a Firearm During a Crime of Violence,” a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); “Felon in Possession of Firearm,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g); “Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); “Hobbs Act Robbery,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); and “Possessing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence,” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).  United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Anderson accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on April 23, 2016, Turner conspired with Trevis Bland, a/k/a/ “HellRell,” and another co-conspirator to rob a prostitute he solicited from backpage.com with a Technicorp .22 caliber revolver outside an Upstate hotel.  Turner set up the date with the victim and met her at the car.  The co-conspirators pointed a gun at the victim, forced her out of the car, and took her money. Bland carjacked the victim’s car. 

Again, on April 27, 2016, Turner and Bland robbed three victims at gunpoint outside of the same hotel.  One individual was hit on the back of the head with a hard object, and the co-conspirators took their money.  The co-conspirators drove away in a truck.  The getaway truck was recovered, and many of the victims’ items were found.  The firearm had initially belonged to Turner, but Turner sold it to Bland.  Both Turner and Bland have prior felony convictions that prohibited them from possessing firearms. Bland previously pled guilty before Judge Cain to conspiracy, armed robberies, carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon involving these facts.

Mrs. Drake stated the maximum penalty for these offenses is life imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of ATF, the Greenville Police Department, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, and the Easley Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Greenville USAO is prosecuting the case.

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