Two Raleigh men sentenced in armed robberies

RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal judge sentenced two men Monday after they pleaded guilty in the armed robberies of a Raleigh jewelry store and a Garner grocery store.

Jerrod Andrew Elliot, 19, and Wayne Tyrone Eason, 20, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a conspiracy to commit robberies of a business in interstate commerce and to using and carrying a firearm during a federal crime of violence.

U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Elliot to nine years in prison and Eason to 12 years. Both prison terms will be followed with five years of supervised probation.

Prosecutors said that Elliot carried a firearm during the robbery of Friedman's Jewelers in Raleigh on April 25, 2008, and the Food Lion in Garner on May 6, 2008. Eason carried a knife in the jewelry store robbery and acted as a getaway driver in the Food Lion robbery, according to prosecutors.

"For the victims who suffer through acts of violent crime, the wounds are difficult to heal," U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding said. "We are grateful that no serious physical harm came to these victims."