The third of five Houston area men accused of participating in four local business burglaries in December of 2017 has admitted to his involvement.
According to the Brazos County district attorney’s office, 23 year old Devante Webb was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Webb was also ordered to pay $3,000 dollars in restitution.
Prosecutors say Webb and the others were seen on video surveillance inside the Koppe Bridge restaurant on Harvey Road using a power grinder to break into a safe.
College Station police arrived while the group was inside.
The men are also accused of burglaries at three restaurants in Navasota.
Previously admitting to their participation were 20 year old Deshawn Webb…who was sentenced to four years in prison, and 22 year old Nigel Luchin…who was sentenced to six years in prison.
From the Brazos County district attorney’s office:
Devante Webb, 23, of Houston, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for his role in breaking into multiple local businesses in December 2017.
Back in December 2017, a number of Brazos County businesses reported similar break-ins. The burglars hit Jumping World in Bryan on December 2, Willie’s Icehouse in College Station on December 7, Smitty K’s Sports Bar & Grill in College Station on December 8; and finally Koppe Bridge in College Station on December 15.
Local police agencies worked together to investigate the burglaries.
In each case, surveillance footage showed a group of five young men breaking into the buildings in the early morning hours, either by smashing a glass door or by using a crowbar to gain entry.
They hid their faces with hats, hoodies, and dust masks. They would then look for any money in the building, including in the registers, bank bags, or in safes.
At Koppe Bridge, the burglars were actually seen on video attempting to use a power grinder to break into a safe.
Police also discovered that during this same time period, three restaurants in Navasota were burglarized in the same way.
College Station Police officers interrupted the group of burglars while they were inside Koppe Bridge. The burglars attempted to flee but all five were arrested with assistance from a DPS helicopter.
In investigating the case, cell phone records showed all five defendants lived in Houston but were present in College Station and Navasota at the time of each of these burglaries.
It does not appear any of the defendants had any connection to Brazos County outside of the burglaries.
Each of these defendants was charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a charge designed to address groups of people who work together to commit crimes.
Out of the five co-defendants, so far three have been sent to prison: Deshawn Webb, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to 4 years in prison; Nigel Luchin, who had prior convictions for Theft, Evading Arrest, and Assault, was sentenced to 6 years in prison; Devante Webb, who had prior convictions for Theft and Evading Arrest, and was on probation for Criminal Mischief at the time of the burglaries, was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Each of these defendants was facing a maximum sentence of 10 years.