A Michigan man with a prior felony conviction for his role in a series of “smash and grab” jewelry store robberies has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms.
Tristian Gerrell-Robert Murphy, 36, of Detroit, was sentenced today to two years and 11 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
READ: St. Petersburg Man Arrested On Multiple Counts Of Possessing Child Pornography
According to court documents, Murphy was pulled over by law enforcement in St. Albans, West Virginia, on June 10, 2024. During the traffic stop, officers discovered three loaded pistols in the vehicle: a Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard.380-caliber pistol under the driver’s seat, a Taurus 9mm pistol in the trunk, and a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm pistol in the glove box.
Murphy admitted to recently purchasing two of the firearms.
Murphy was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction in 2021 for conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery. In that case, he participated in a nationwide crime ring responsible for numerous “smash and grab” robberies at jewelry stores across the United States.
READ: Homeless Venezuelan In Michigan Turns Himself In to ICE, Citing Intent To Commit Crimes
At the time of his arrest in West Virginia, Murphy was on supervised release for his prior conviction. This latest sentence will be served consecutively to any sentence imposed for violating the terms of his supervised release.
The St. Albans Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.