A Carlsbad man will have to spend nearly 11 years in federal prison after being sentenced for his part in a robbery spree in several southeastern New Mexico communities.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for New Mexico says 35-year-old Maurice Williams was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Las Cruces.
The office says Williams was among six Carlsbad residents prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative.
According to the office, various members of the group robbed stores in Artesia, Carlsbad and Hobbs and a restaurant in Artesia during late 2012 and early 2013.
Williams pleaded guilty to robbing a Family Dollar store in Artesia on Nov. 15, 2012, and to conspiring to rob a Family Dollar story in Carlsbad.
The five co-defendants remain in custody pending sentencing hearings.
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