Couple sentenced for 2015 robbery spree

901-333-2014

A Memphis couple has been sentenced collectively to more than 30 years for robbing several businesses throughout the city, U.S. Atty. Ed Stanton’s office said.

Julius Knight, 33, and Deidra Mason, 25, were sentenced for the armed robberies that occurred between May and June of 2015.

According to court information, during the robberies Knight would enter the businesses with a weapon and demand employees give him money from the cash registers. In some of the robberies, authorities said Knight would wear disguises including caps, a red wig and pantyhose over his face.

Mason, his girlfriend at the time, was the getaway driver.

Authorities found that a blue Ford Taurus was used as the getaway car in robberies at the Family Dollar, Subway and Papa John’s Pizza.

Last June, officers stopped the Ford that Mason was driving. She was arrested when police found she was driving on a suspended license. After she was in custody, police found that the car was the same one used in some of the robberies.

Two days after Mason was arrested, police said Knight continued the robberies alone. He robbed the Church’s Chicken on Chelsea Avenue and then five days later, he robbed the Church’s on Thomas Street.

In both robberies, Knight did not wear a disguise and witnesses and employees identified him to police. Authorities also were able to get fingerprints from the scene that matched Knight’s and he was arrested.

In May, Knight pleaded guilty to six counts of aiding and abetting Mason in the robbery of a business, one count of using a firearm during a robbery, and two counts of robbing a business. Mason pleaded guilty in April to six counts of aiding and abetting Knight in the robbery of a business.

Earlier this month, Mason was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison. Knight was sentenced to 336 months.