Man gets over 25 years in prison for role in North Texas jewelry store heists
A Mesquite man who admitted his part in several jewelry store heists across the Metroplex was sentenced to more than 25 years in federal prison Friday, authorities said.
Mark D. Whitfield, 36, pleaded guilty in September 2014 to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.
Friday morning, U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater sentenced him to 309 months in federal prison.
Last month, Whitfield’s partner in crime, Michael Demon Jackson, 37 of Dallas, was sentenced by the same judge to 594 months in federal prison.
Jackson had pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count as well as two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.
The men admitted robbing four stores — one Dallas store twice — between October of 2013 and May of 2014, stealing more than $400,000 in jewelry.
Two of the robberies were in Lewisville and the last was at Benson’s Jewelers at The Parks at Arlington mall.
Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655
This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Man gets over 25 years in prison for role in North Texas jewelry store heists."