Beaumont Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Violations in Series of Armed Robberies

Daniel James Leatherwood, a 21-year-old resident of Beaumont, has pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Leatherwood entered his guilty plea on Jan. 25, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn. The charges include Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Court documents reveal that Leatherwood, along with another individual, engaged in a series of armed robberies in and around Beaumont during April and May of 2023. The targeted businesses included two Game X Change stores, a Shell gas station, an Express Mart convenience store, and a Cindie’s lingerie store.

Indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 1, 2023, Leatherwood faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison for armed robbery and an additional seven years for brandishing a firearm during the commission of the crime. The final sentencing will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation.

The case was handled as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, which is a central component of the Department of Justice’s initiatives to reduce violent crime. PSN is an evidence-based program known for its effectiveness in reducing violent crime by bringing together various stakeholders to identify and address the most critical issues in the community. By concentrating enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders, PSN collaborates with local prevention and reentry programs for sustainable reductions in crime.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Beaumont Police Department, Nederland Police Department, Liberty Police Department, and the case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy L. Coleman in cooperation with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.