A Ville Platte man was sentenced last week to almost nine years in prison for participating in the armed robbery of a St. Landry Parish casino and truck stop, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Dudley Stevens Nelson, 25, of Ville Platte, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, to 21 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and to 84 months in prison for one count of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, for a total of 105 months in prison. He was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $11,675 in restitution.
According to evidence presented at the October 28, 2013, guilty plea, the defendant, along with Ville Platte residents Arinskie Tryvon Orlandeze Jones
and Ronald James Doomes, robbed the Tiger Trax truck stop and casino in Whiteville on April 8, 2011.
Nelson admitted to driving the vehicle and knowing beforehand that a gun would be used.
After robbing the truck stop and casino, the defendants left in a white SUV with $11,675.
Authorities found the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Three people exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Nelson was apprehended. Jones and Doomes turned themselves in to authorities six days later.
A federal jury found Doomes guilty of one count of armed robbery and one count of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Doomes' sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15, 2014, and he faces a prison term of seven years
to life.
Jones was found guilty of one count of interference with commerce by robbery on Aug. 27, 2014. He faces 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. They both face five years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine.