Alabama Man Sentenced to Prison for Columbus Home Depot Robbery

COLUMBUS, Ga. - An Alabama man has been sentenced to prison for the robbery of a Columbus Home Depot in 2020 and was linked to an alleged ten other similar robberies or thefts at home improvement stores in Georgia before being captured by police following a theft at a metro-Atlanta Lowe's.

Demetrice Q. Suttles, also known as Demetris Suttles, 43, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on May 6, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of interference of commerce by robbery on Jan. 27. There is no parole in the federal system.

"Criminals who engage in violent acts in the Middle District of Georgia will be brought to justice," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "We are committed to working closely with law enforcement partners at every level to safeguard our communities and ensure these defendants face consequences for their actions."

"Suttles carried out a pattern of robberies and thefts across multiple Georgia communities, using the presence of a firearm to create fear and avoid apprehension," said ATF Special Agent Charles Mulherin. "ATF remains committed to targeting repeat violent offenders who threaten public safety."

"This wasn't just theft, it was a pattern of criminal behavior that endangered employees across multiple communities, including ours. Our officers worked closely with our partners to stop it and hold him accountable. That's exactly how this should end," said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis.

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, a series of robberies or thefts took place at Home Depot and Lowe's stores in Georgia between March 11, 2020, and July 20, 2020. Although the crimes took place at different times of day, the description of the solo subject was always the same, including his clothing and the fact that he had a firearm on his right hip. Some of the incidents were captured by surveillance cameras. Investigators ultimately determined that at least ten of these incidents were committed by the same person, later identified as Suttles.

On April 13, 2020, at approximately 2:55 p.m., a Columbus Home Depot Asset Protection employee was monitoring the sales floor when they noticed Suttles. Suttles was dressed in an all-black outfit with the word "SECURITY" emblazoned across the chest and his ball cap, wearing a face mask, and carrying a black holster with a black handgun on his right hip. Suttles loaded a shopping cart with various power tools, walked past the checkout area and headed toward the exit. Suttles noticed the Asset Protection employee and shouted profanities at him. When he saw another Home Depot employee approaching, Suttles reached for the handgun on his hip, pulled it up several inches, and threatened, "Do not do it motherf***er, I will shoot you." The employee did not intervene, and Suttles fled toward his vehicle with $2,841 worth of stolen power tools. Three days later, on April 16, 2020, Suttles was shoplifting at the Norcross, Georgia, Lowe's store, where an employee recognized him from previous robberies and called 911. Suttles was apprehended outside the store by the Norcross Police Department.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Columbus Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, with assistance from the Norcross Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett prosecuted the case for the Government.