Serial Armed Robber Sentenced to 18 Years

 

On March 20, 2018, Antonio Simmons pled guilty, before the Honorable Markley Dennis to five counts of armed robbery. Simmons was represented by Attorney John Apicella. After hearing from both Mr. Apicella and Assistant Solicitor David Osborne, who prosecuted the case, Judge Dennis sentenced Simmons to 30 years suspended to 18 years of active time.

 

Between the dates of December 10, 2013 to March 30, 2014, detectives with the Charleston Police Department and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office investigated a serious of business robberies in the James Island and West Ashley area. The robberies appeared to have been committed by the same individuals based on the modus operandi, suspect, clothing, and weapon descriptions all being similar. Since the suspects were masked and wore gloves, the robberies presented very little physical evidence. With a thorough, diligent investigation which included numerous interviews, the detectives from both agencies gathered enough evidence to charge both Simmons and a co-defendant named Feraud Lemon. Lemon’s charges are still pending.

 

Detectives were already familiar with Simmons. Not only did he have a criminal history, Simmons was arrested for committing two armed robberies in 2010 and 2011, both with a separate co-defendant named Jayciono Dlugon. Detectives believed Simmons recruited Dlogon to commit those robberies just as he did with Lemon for the new offenses. When Dlogon refused to cooperate with prosecutors, there was insufficient evidence to convict Simmons and his 2010 and 2011 armed robberies had to be dismissed. Dlogon pled guilty to both robberies and received a 10 year active time sentence.

 

Simmons’ prior convictions include: malicious injury to property and larceny in 2000, possession of crack cocaine in 2001, failure to stop for blue lights and habitual traffic offender in 2001, unlawful carrying of a firearm in 2007, trespass, larceny, and (2 counts) of receiving stolen goods in 2011, interference with a fire alarm and defrauding the lottery system in 2013.

 

###