HAMPTON, Va. (WVEC) -- A man was sentenced to over 14 years in prison for armed robbery and obstructing his federal prosecution.
Court documents show Jesse Lockhart, 24, robbed an Exxon gas station in Hampton while showing his gun. During the incident, he dropped cigarettes that he had stolen from the store. Authorities later identified him as the suspect and arrested him.
After his federal arrest, Jesse, his mother, 40-year-old Germekia Lockhart and 34-year-old Tamara Washington conspired and executed a plan to falsify evidence in his federal case.
They agreed to get a replica airsoft gun and give it to the authorities.
Germekia provided Washington with a description of the gun used in the robbery.
Washington, a sheriff's deputy, bought a look-alike airsoft pistol from the internet. She modified the gun so it would look real and gave it to Germekia.
Federal agents picked up the gun from Germekia just weeks before Lockhart was to be tried in court.
The conspiracy was later uncovered.
Washington and Germekia were each sentenced to 27 months in prison for their roles in the plan to obstruct justice.
