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5 suspects plead guilty in connection with armed grocery store robberies

Posted at 5:13 PM, Feb 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-11 23:01:21-04

NORFOLK, Va. – Five Hampton Roads-area people pleaded guilty to their roles in a string of grocery store robberies, one of which ended in a Harris Teeter employee being shot in Virginia Beach.

Court documents show that the individuals worked in at least six-member teams, and conducted armed robberies of at least three Chesapeake and Virginia Beach-area stores. The teams included inside and outside lookouts, getaway drivers and gunmen, and the suspects used police scanners to monitor law enforcement.

In the final robbery at Harris Teeter, which occurred October 3, 2018, the store manager was shot.

Cato Battle, 18, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm during a violent crime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life in prison.

Willey E. Brooks, Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of robbery and two counts of using a firearm during a violent crime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years and a maximum of life in prison. On October 10, he was sentenced in federal court to 216 months in prison.

Monica Perkins, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of robbery and one count of using a firearm during a violent crime. On October 10, she was sentenced in federal court to 108 months in prison.

Brandon Tisdale, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of robbery and two counts of using a firearm during a violent crime. On October 10, he was sentenced in federal court to 216 months in prison.

Trevor Tisdale, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of robbery and two counts of using a firearm during a violent crime. On September 25, he was sentenced in federal court to 100 months in prison.

A sixth member of the group, Keonte Yorkshire, 21, pleaded guilty February 5. On September 23 Yorkshire was sentenced to over 12 years behind bars.

Related: Two Virginia Beach men arrested in connection with armed grocery store robberies