A federal jury has convicted a Ft. Myers man for his involvement in a string of armed robberies of banks and retail stores, according to Maria Chapa Lopez, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
After a seven-day trial, the jury found Rashid Iman Turner, 32, of Ft. Myers, guilty of one count of conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, two counts of bank robbery, three counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, and three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Turner faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 21 years, and up to life, in federal prison. Turner’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20.
According to evidence presented at trial, Turner and co-defendant Petrie Addison forced entry into at least one retail store in Lehigh Acres shortly after closing time, held the employees at gunpoint, threatened to kill them and their families, forced them to open the safes, and stole the cash from the store. Co-defendant Dakiriya Lias served as their getaway driver… Tampa Bay Reporter