Grandfather, grandson face life in prison
The Missouri duo is charged with a March crime spree that included a home invasion and a carjacking while a child was in the vehicle.
By Pablo Kuznetsov ·
The Department of Justice charged a Missouri grandfather and his 19-year-old grandson with a series of violent offenses committed in March. Michael T. Lomax, 57, and Mario O. Lomax face multiple federal counts for their actions during a crime spree.
According to a probable cause statement, the two men broke into a home in the early morning hours of March 25. They wore dark clothing and face masks while brandishing a firearm. The pair ordered a 63-year-old resident to the floor and asked if the house contained cash or guns.
The suspects forced the victim to walk through the residence. They then moved the resident into the basement before leaving. The Lomaxes took cash, guns, the victim's car keys, and a cell phone during the break-in.
As the pair fled the area, they found a Chevy Silverado idling in a driveway. The vehicle owner was assisting one child into the truck while another sat in the back seat. The suspects climbed into the truck and pointed a gun at the child in the rear.
The child stepped out of the vehicle as ordered. The men drove away with the truck. The Department of Justice noted that the suspects also stole the victim's cell phones, bag, and medication during the incident.
Federal prosecutors have filed charges for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Both defendants face a minimum sentence of 24 years if convicted. The maximum penalty is life in federal prison without parole.
The Department of Justice released the charging information on November 3. The charges detail the specific sequence of events that led to the federal prosecution of the two family members.
Source: FOX 32 Chicago
