Armed Robbery, Murder Lands St. Pete Man In Federal Prison: U.S. DOJ

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg man was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a 2014 armed robbery and a 2018 murder, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Corey Small, 44, pleaded guilty to multiple charges on Oct. 14, 2021, including interfering with commerce by robbery, using and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, causing death by murder.

In 2014, Small robbed a St. Petersburg dry cleaning business of $51.41 after pointing a gun at the clerk, according to the DOJ.

Four years later, in 2018, he conspired to distribute cocaine with an exotic nightclub employee. Small argued with an individual who tried to convince the employee to leave the club and stop selling drugs for Small. During the argument, he shot the individual four times, killing him, the agency said.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pinellas Park Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.