MADISON, Wis. — A Madison felon was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday for an auto parts robbery, according to a news release.
U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader’s office said 34-year-old Jeremiah Edwards was found guilty in February of armed robbery, brandishing a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing THC products with an intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
The jury reached its verdict Tuesday after seven hours of deliberations and four days of testimony in federal court.
Officials said Edwards and Kanasha Woods robbed the O’Reilly Auto Parts Store in the town of Blooming Grove on November 2018. The two displayed firearms during the robbery and stole money from the safe and cash register drawers.
Both left the area and drove to the Moorish Science Temple in downtown Madison, where police tried to pull them over. Officials said Edwards refused to stop and led officers on a high-speed chase. He later crashed his SUV and ran away from the scene.
Authorities searched the vehicle and found money from the robbery, a ski mask, gloves and a tactical laser sight that was on the firearm.
Officers also found marijuana and THC products, with a second search revealing a loaded 9mm Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol. Wisconsin State Crime Lab analysts said the handgun contained Edwards’ DNA.
Four hours after the robbery, officials said Edwards drained his bank account at an ATM inside a laundromat one mile from the crash site and went to Chicago with a fake ID. He was arrested there on March 2019.
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