Man guilty of pizza delivery robberies

Advertiser Staff

A 20-year-old man was found guilty in federal court of a series of robberies of pizza delivery drivers.

Brian Raley was found guilty of obstructing commerce through robbery last week before visiting U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken. Raley was one of five men who were indicted in connection with four robberies at knife point of pizza drivers in March and April 2003.

Earlier, Raymond Ridela, 20; Armond Jackson, 21; Carmichael Doan, 22; and Matthew Emshoff, 22, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Ridela also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct commerce through robbery.

Each man faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and supervised release of three years. Raley will be sentenced Nov. 24, Ridela on Sept. 15, Emshoff and Doan on Jan. 20, 2004, and Jackson on Jan. 24, 2004.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Omer Poirier said his office prosecuted this case because it involved commercial establishments and interstate commerce. He added that the four robberies were committed by the same people so the FBI and U.S. Attorney decided to try the case in federal court, where the punishment is generally harsher than in state court and there is no parole.