Special to The Leader

BEAUMONT, Texas – Acting United States Attorney Brit Featherston announced on Thursday that four Southeast Texas men have been charged in a federal robbery conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas.

According to complaints filed today in federal court, Micah Ledell Johnson, 37, of Humble, Texas; Darrell Paul Williams, 36, of Beaumont; Gerrick Leon Wade, 36, of Houston; and Eric Ray Johnson, 36, of Houston, are alleged to be involved in a conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery in Beaumont, Corpus Christi, and the Houston metro area.

On Feb. 22, 2017, law enforcement officers in Beaumont attempted to stop a white Cadillac Escalade truck in the vicinity of Dowlen Road and Delaware. The vehicle would not stop and instead led officers on a vehicle pursuit until it came to a stop in the 3500 block of Delaware. The three men in the vehicle fled on foot but were captured and detained by law enforcement officers. A fourth man, whose involvement was already known to officers, was located and detained at a nearby service station. Interviews with the suspects revealed an alleged conspiracy to commit an armed robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act in Beaumont, but law enforcements officers successfully intervened and prevented them from succeeding.

If convicted, the defendants face penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison. It is important to note that a complaint, arrest, or indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beaumont Police Department, and the Houston Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods.