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U.S. Attorney’s Office announces Two Tennessee Men Plead Guilty To Killing Man During Home Invasion Robbery in Clarksville

U.S. Attorney's Office - Middle district of TennesseeNashville, TN – Two Tennessee men pleaded guilty to using a firearm to kill during a home invasion robbery they conducted on May 7th, 2011, announced U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Demario Winston, 27, of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Michael Massey, 26, of Lexington, Tennessee, pleaded guilty before Chief District Court Judge Kevin H. Sharp of the Middle District of Tennessee to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and use of a firearm in a crime of violence resulting in death.  Massey also pleaded guilty to attempted Hobbs Act Robbery.

According to admissions reflected in the plea agreements, on May 7th, 2011, Winston, Massey and others attempted to rob a home in Clarksville, Tennessee and Massey used a sledge hammer to gain entry.  The conspirators had previously been told that a large amount of cocaine and cash was stored inside a safe in the basement of the home.

The defendants further admitted that, while inside the home, Winston, who was armed with a 9mm pistol, engaged in a gun fight with the homeowner on the first floor, while other conspirators attempted to force one of the occupants of the home, Raul Triana, to open the safe in the basement, pistol-whipping him in the process.

Evidence introduced in the plea hearing indicated that in response to the shooting on the first floor, some of the conspirators fled the home, and Massey, who was armed with an assault rifle, fled through the basement where he encountered Triana and shot and killed him.

In addition, according to the statement of facts in support of Massey’s plea, on October 21st, 2011, he and a co-defendant robbed the owner of a Clarksville-based construction company at gunpoint.

This case was investigated by the Clarksville Police Department and the DEA.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynne T. Ingram of the Middle District of Tennessee and Laura Gwinn of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

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