Atlanta Inmate Allegedly Plots Jewelry Heist from Behind Bars
ATLANTA — In a surprising twist to a North Carolina jewelry store robbery, federal agents have identified a Georgia inmate as the possible mastermind behind the heist. According to recent findings from a criminal complaint, Deuntria Lyons, who’s currently serving six life sentences, was allegedly directing and guiding the thieves from his prison cell.
Lyons’ involvement isn’t just an isolated incident. More than a decade ago, he was found guilty of orchestrating similar crimes while serving a sentence for armed robbery. “The level of sophistication here is unusual compared to what we typically see in the state of Georgia,” commented Chris Timmons, a former prosecutor.
How It All Unfolded
Federal agents pieced together the details through a series of messages and videos exchanged via Instagram. A suspect reportedly scoped out the North Carolina jewelry store weeks before the robbery, sending detailed videos of the store’s layout to an account linked to Lyons. These messages discussed plans for multiple thefts, strongly pointing to Lyons as the mastermind.
Timmons expressed his frustration at the situation, “There has to be something the prison system can do to prevent this guy from getting cell phones, quite frankly, this is embarrassing for the prison system in the state of Georgia.”
Interestingly, the Georgia Department of Corrections has remained silent and did not respond to requests for comment.
A Decade of Deception
Back in 2012, Lyons was already making headlines for continuing his criminal activities while incarcerated. Authorities say that even though he was off the streets serving a 20-year sentence for armed robbery, he still managed to coordinate other armed robberies. “It was almost disbelief that somebody inside prison, serving a sentence for armed robbery, is now coordinating other armed robberies,” remarked Sgt. John Wilbanks.
Detective David Brucz elaborated on Lyons’ operations, saying, “He sent text messages on where he wanted these guys to be, where to meet up, what he wanted them to do.” The incidents included violent robberies such as the one in February 2011 at Barrons Fine Jewelry in Snellville and another a month later at Tara Fine Jewelry in Buford, where thieves used hammers to break cases and even attacked customers.
Investigators managed to tie Lyons to these crimes through a series of meticulous steps, which included pawning and fencing the stolen goods. When they finally caught up with Lyons, he was found wearing a cellphone watch.
An Ongoing Problem
The recent case in North Carolina has now roped in federal agents, which could result in Lyons being transferred to a higher security facility. “Maybe something like Supermax in Colorado would prevent this guy from doing what he is doing,” Timmons suggested.
Smuggled cell phones in prisons are not a new issue. Timmons explained that the incentives for smuggling these illegal phones often outweigh the perceived risks. With the federal complaint in place, there’s hope that stricter measures will be enforced.
Lyons’ case undoubtedly raises questions about security measures within prisons and the accessibility of inmates to illegal devices.
In Other News
Locally, a DeKalb County woman finds herself in financial distress over car repairs she never agreed to. Stay tuned for more updates and developments.
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