Multi-state crime spree lands three behind bars

A crime spree committed by three Louisiana men has ended with the trio serving lengthy federal prison sentences.

The crime spree started in Madison then the trio moved to Kentwood, then to McComb, Miss., down to Beaumont, Texas, and they were finally caught in Vinton.

Vicki T. Chance, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Western District of Louisiana, said each defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Evan Aaron Ard, 22, of Hammond was sentenced to 123 months in prison. Jaylon Deshon Brumfield, 25, of Lake Charles was sentenced to 120 months in
prison. Taurus Terrell Finley, 22, of Hammond, was sentenced to 131 months in prison. Each defendant will also serve 5 years of supervised release following their release from prison.

Chance said the string of robberies were committed between April 14, 2022, and April 27, 2022.

“During this period of time, Ard, Brumfield, and Finley conspired to take property from multiple businesses and people, including Bordertown Travel and their cashier, by force, threat and violence,” Chance said. “Each defendant admitted to using a firearm in furtherance of the robbery of Bordertown Travel to help them obtain property from them by threat and force.”

In addition, Chance said the trio stole multiple vehicles, firearms, property from convenience stores, and robbed individuals at gunpoint along the way.

“This crime spree finally ended after the robbery of the store in Vinton, after all three defendants attempted to flee in a stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed from police, which resulted in spikes being employed followed by a foot chase of Ard, Brumfield, and Finley until apprehended by police,” Chance said.

“These three defendants left many victims frightened and scarred by the threats of gun violence and robbery committed against them,” said United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “They had no care of others’ property or life as they made their way across three states committing these robberies. Thanks to the cooperation of many state and local, as well as federal law enforcement agency partners, this crime spree came to an end without the loss of life.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey Richmond.