Victor Devon Edwards sentenced for arson

Colleen — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 02:06:35 +0000

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Minnesota

St. Paul Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Arson and Riot During August 2020 Riots in Downtown Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for burning, looting, and damaging stores and businesses in downtown Minneapolis on August 26, 2020. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced the defendant.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on the evening of August 26, 2020, Victor Devon Edwards, 32, drove to downtown Minneapolis following a city-wide curfew to join a large crowd that had gathered following false rumors regarding police involvement in the death of a man on Nicollet Mall earlier that evening. Over the course of approximately three hours, Edwards engaged in acts of riot, arson, and other property damage and destruction in downtown Minneapolis. Edwards was captured on video surveillance participating in the rioting and looting at Saks Off Fifth and entering other closed stores and businesses that evening, including Caribou Coffee, Target Headquarters, and Brit’s Pub on Nicollet Mall. Edwards was captured on video surveillance helping to break into the Target Headquarters building and adding fuel to a fire set inside the building, which ultimately caused almost a million dollars in damages to Target. Edwards was then captured on video surveillance entering the nearby Brit’s Pub, which, shortly after he went in, became engulfed in flames.

During and after his criminal activity downtown that evening, Edwards bragged about his participation in the rioting and looting. Edwards also took orders from friends for items to loot. The next morning, Edwards took a video of himself flashing a large amount of cash and saying, “On the looting side. . .” He also admitted that he got “MK purses and money” in text messages with his friends.

On August 12, 2021, Edwards was convicted by a federal jury of one count of riot and one count of arson.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Chelsea A. Walcker.

Edwards crime buddies plead guilty in January 2021. SHADOR TOMMIE CORTEZ JACKSON, sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release; and LEROY LEMONTE PERRY WILLIAMS, sentence is unknown.

Department of Justice

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MNRIOTS: three men charged with arson

Colleen — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:55:42 +0000

VuctDepartment of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Three Men Charged With Conspiracy To Commit Arson Of Target Corporation Headquarters

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging SHADOR TOMMIE CORTEZ JACKSON, 24, VICTOR DEVON EDWARDS, 31, and LEROY LEMONTE PERRY WILLIAMS, 34, each with one count of conspiracy to commit arson of the Target Corporation’s corporate headquarters building located at 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota. JACKSON, EDWARDS, AND WILLIAMS were previously charged via federal complaint with arson. Formal detention and arraignment hearings will be scheduled at a later date.

According to allegations in the federal indictment and documents filed with the court, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Minneapolis experienced arson, rioting, and looting following the suicide of a suspect in a homicide, and in response to false rumors surrounding the man’s death. JACKSON, EDWARDS, and WILLIAMS went to the Target Corporation’s corporate headquarters building (“Target Corporation building”) where dozens of other people had gathered. JACKSON used a construction sign to break through one of the glass doors into the Target Corporation building. JACKSON, EDWARDS, and WILLIAMS, along with unidentified others, breached the doors and entered the Target Corporation building. Once inside, JACKSON intentionally set a fire on a counter inside the mailroom while EDWARDS stood nearby. EDWARDS later added a liquid accelerant to the fire located on the mailroom counter with the intent to fuel the existing fire. JACKSON attempted to light a second fire in the mailroom on top of cardboard boxes using a lighter and a bottle of ignitable liquid. JACKSON, EDWARDS, and WILLIAMS, along with unidentified others then ran out of the building together using the same door. WILLIAMS subsequently re-entered the building and attempted to light a fire inside the building entrance before leaving the scene.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea A. Walcker.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendant Information:

SHADOR TOMMIE CORTEZ JACKSON, 24

Richfield, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to Commit Arson, 1 count

VICTOR DEVON EDWARDS, 31,

St. Paul, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to Commit Arson, 1 count

LEROY LEMONTE PERRY WILLIAMS, 34

Minneapolis, Minn.

Charges:

Conspiracy to Commit Arson, 1 count

The post MNRIOTS: three men charged with arson first appeared on The Published Pen.

Victor Devon Edwards | The Published Pen

Victor Devon Edwards sentenced for arson

MNRIOTS: three men charged with arson

Three Men Charged With Conspiracy To Commit Arson Of Target Corporation Headquarters