District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Jerome Hall, 18 and Verdez KiShun Pinkston, 20, both of Brunswick, Georgia, entered negotiated guilty pleas to two separate cases in Glynn County Superior Court during the week of February 5, 2024.
In the first, they both pled guilty to one count each of Armed Robbery and Aggravated Assault. In the second case, they both plead guilty to two counts of Armed Robbery, one count each of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery and seven counts of Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Additionally, Hall pled guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Hall was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by seven years on probation. Pinkston was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The sentencing judge was Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr. Because of the pleas to Armed Robbery, the prison time for both is not parolable, meaning they will have to serve every day of their prison sentences.
The evidence showed that on March 10, 2023, Brunswick Police responded to an armed robbery call at Tropic Island Grocery located on Norwich Street in Brunswick. There they met with the victim who stated he had gone into the store to cash his $800 paycheck. After he left the store, he started to drive away when a man dressed in black, wearing a ski mask and gloves, approached and pointed a handgun at his head and ordered him to pull over. After pulling over, two men demanded money from the victim. He gave them his wallet and the assailants took the $800. Additionally, one of them pistol-whipped him causing a laceration. Both assailants then fled.
The next day, Glynn County Police responded to an armed robbery call at the Druid Oaks Mobile Home Park located at on Hwy 17 in Brunswick. There police met with two victims who said they were walking towards the entrance of the Park when two black males dressed in black with masks approached them pointing handguns. Both victims gave the assailants their wallets and cell phones. They were then both pistol-whipped. Both assailants then fled. There was video footage of the armed robbery from a nearby homeowner.
Instagram photos on the account of Verdez Pinkston were located by police which showed him wearing clothing similar to clothing used by one of the assailants. Additionally, both Hall and Pinkston had been in a traffic stop the month before. Body camera video of the stop was reviewed and showed Hall wearing a jacket similar to the one worn by the other assailant from the March 11, 2023, armed robbery.
On March 14, 2023, a search warrant was executed at a residence at Perry Place Apartments. Verdez Pinkston was one of the residents of the apartment. Clothing matching that worn by the assailants of the March 11, 2023, armed robbery was located along with two handguns and ski masks.
A witness familiar with Pinkston identified him from the surveillance video based on the clothing which he was wearing. The witness had also seen him wear the clothing later that night.
Another witness familiar with Hall identified him from the surveillance video based on the clothing he was wearing. The witness had also loaned Hall her vehicle. Tracking information from the vehicle showed it at the Tropical Island Grocery shortly before the March 10, 2023, armed robbery. The tracking information also showed the vehicle at the Mobile Home Park shortly before the March 11, 2023, armed robbery.
Following their arrests, Pinkston made jail phone calls to his mother and an unknown female admitting his involvement.
Both Hall and Pinkston are identified members of the Exterminator Gang, a local gang that identifies with the Rollin 60s Crips, a nationally recognized criminal street gang.
According to Assistant DA Leland McElveen who prosecuted the case, “Criminal Street Gangs prey on the innocent in cities across the country. In Glynn County, we are working to ensure that their conduct will not be tolerated in our community.”
Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.
