A dollar store robber from St. Louis County who displayed a weapon during a minor heist has been sentenced to seven years in prison, according to court records. Daniel D. Martin, a 22-year-old Ferguson resident, carried out what could be described as a daring and desperate heist on August 29, 2021, with a simple pack of Skittles setting the backdrop for a more sinister demand. After presenting the sweets for purchase, Martin brandished his handgun and ordered that the cashier fill his pockets, departing the scene with $267.34.
Martin was sentenced to 84 months in prison on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp after pleading guilty earlier this year. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, Martin pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of possessing a handgun during a violent felony. The swiftness of justice, in contrast to the brevity of the crime, demonstrates the severe hand with which the law weighs such armed transgressions—regardless of the haul.
The St. Louis County Police Department conducted a significant investigation and concluded the case in a matter of minutes. The case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker, reflecting the community’s combined local and federal efforts to address and prevent violent crime.
The term imposed can be viewed as a warning to those who underestimate the seriousness with which armed robbery is handled in Missouri, as well as a prediction of Martin’s long road to redemption.
