A Fort Myers man has learned his fate after pleading guilty to robbing a Papa Johns store at 3412 Cleveland Avenue.
Shadarien Lamarr Ward , 22, pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
On Sept. 1, 2024, Ward robbed the store at gunpoint, pistol-whipped an employee , grabbed the cash register drawer, and took approximately $700 in cash.
Ward then fled the area on foot. Investigators were able to identify him by reviewing surveillance cameras in the area and tracked him to a North Fort Myers motel.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Middle District of Florida, Ward is also a registered sex offender and was wearing a GPS monitor at the time of the robbery as part of his state sex offender probation. He cut the monitor off following the robbery.
Ward was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.
DOWNLOAD
the free
Gulf Coast News app
for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.
