JACKSON, MISSOURI – A woman from Missouri has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for her involvement in a robbery that resulted in the deaths of three people. Jamison Layne Townsend, 42, was found guilty of aiding her co-defendant, Joshua Michael Garcia, who shot and killed three individuals during the robbery at Bill’s Coin & Jewelry in December 2016.
Court documents revealed that Townsend and Garcia entered the jewelry store with the intention of committing a robbery. During the course of the robbery, Garcia discharged a firearm, resulting in the tragic deaths of the store owner and two employees. Following the robbery, the pair pawned stolen items at a shop in Mobile, Alabama.
The two suspects were then involved in a high-speed chase with law enforcement and were eventually apprehended in Geary County, Kansas. A search of their vehicle revealed a significant amount of stolen merchandise from Bill’s Coin & Jewelry, as well as firearms, including the murder weapon identified by the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory.
Townsend pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact in 2023, while Garcia had previously pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during the robbery, resulting in three consecutive life sentences.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI, the Jackson Police Department, and various other law enforcement agencies.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of violent crime and the impact it has on communities. The sentencing of Townsend highlights the serious legal repercussions for those involved in such criminal activities. It also underscores the importance of law enforcement cooperation in bringing perpetrators to justice and providing closure to the victims’ families.