2 Charged In Armed Robberies Targeting Asian-Owned Businesses

ROSWELL, GA -- Two men have been arrested in connection with a slew of violent armed robberies targeting Asian owned or operated businesses around Roswell and metro Atlanta, the FBI Atlanta Field Office said Wednesday.

Atlanta residents Tabyron Rashad Smith and Davrion Sanche Ware, both 22, are each charged with aiding and abetting one another to commit violation of Title 18 USC 1951, Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence; and Title 18 USC 924(c), Possession of a Firearm during and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

Smith was apprehended Nov. 21 without incident by FBI agents and officers of the FBI-led Atlanta Metro Major Offender (AMMO) Task Force at a family residence in Fairburn. Sanchez was arrested Wednesday by the AMMO Task Force without incident at a home in Stone Mountain.

Smith was given an initial appearance in front of a U.S. magistrate judge in Atlanta Tuesday afternoon and Ware will be granted an initial appearance in federal court Wednesday.

The most recent of these armed robberies was reported around 8:52 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at New You Massage at 710 Holcomb Bridge Road Unit 206 in Roswell. According to the FBI, three men entered the establishment and "acted like customers." One of the men requested a massage, and the employee told the man he would need to pay before receiving the massage. That's when the trio brandished handguns and demanded money from the employee.

"One of the robbers went through the drawers of the front desk, while the other robbers stole wallets, phones, and purses from employees and customers," the FBI added. "The robbers struck several of the employees and a customer in their heads with their handguns."

The men left the business, got into a red four-door passenger car and fled the area. Investigators believe this cluster of incidents began with an armed robbery call around 1:12 a.m. Oct. 7 at Spring Spa at 1995 Manchester Street NE in Atlanta.

Two men entered the business and acted like they were customers. Both men requested massages, but brandished handguns and demanded the employee open the door to the office. The employee fled the business, but the men got into the office and trashed the place. Another employee told the pair she called the police, forcing both suspects to leave the area in a red four-door vehicle driven by a third man. The suspects made off with a purse with its contents and a cell phone.

A few days later on Oct. 10, two men entered Cedar Massage at 6035 Bakers Ferry Road in Atlanta around 10:12 p.m., brandished handguns and demanded cash from the employee. Before leaving the business, one of the robbers took money from the cash register and another stole purses, phones and other belongings from several victims. The FBI notes one of the robbers carried his gun, a semi-automatic handgun, in his left hand and was sporting what appeared to be a gold watch on his left wrist.

The FBI believes the same crew also targeted QI Clay Sauna around 11:19 p.m. Oct. 13. Two men entered the business at 7130 Buford Highway #A107 in Atlanta and, once again, acted like they were customers. In a matter of minutes, the men brandished handguns and demanded cash. One of the men hit an employee twice in the head with his firearm.

The robbers stole a purse and money from the cash register. One of the employees followed the robbers as they left the business. The robber responded by hitting that employee then firing his gun several times. The robbers fled the area in a red or orange sedan. One of the robbers wore a sweatshirt or jacket with the words "Dope Sport" printed on the back.

Two men carrying out the same M.O. entered Lush Nails and Spa at 3529 Northside Parkway in Atlanta around 7:42 p.m. Oct. 20. Both men pulled out handguns and demanded money from the employee. The employee as well as a customer standing near the cash register were both struck by the robbers, who took money from the drawer and a purse from a customer. They both left the store, but not before kicking an employee in the head.

Kochi Maru at 5808 Buford Highway in Doraville was also the site of the violent armed robbery spree when two men entered the restaurant at 11:20 p.m. Oct. 24 and pretended they were there as customers.
One of the men perused a menu while the other made a trip to the restroom. When that male returned from the purported pit stop, both men pulled out handguns and demanded money and belongings from employees as well as customers. The other robber approached a group of customers seated at a table, stole their purses and shot two of the customers -- each in the leg, the FBI added.

The shooter then approached the cash register area and shot an employee in her back as she knelt on the ground. The two robbers then fled the store. The robber who took the employee to the cash register carried his gun in his left hand and wore a gold watch on his left wrist. His gun was a black semi-automatic handgun and he appeared to use a cell phone while he was inside the business.

At Palm Beach Tan in Buckhead, one man entered the business around 7:35 p.m. 2770 Lenox Road in Atlanta and told an employee "he needed to get a tan," the FBI said. He pulled out a handgun, aimed it at an employee and demanded money from the cash register and safe. The robber took the money, left the store and got into the passenger seat of a red, four-door sedan being driven by a second person. The robber wore a black winter hat and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

A similar incident was also reported around 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Royal Massage at 3375 Holcomb Bridge Road Suite G in Norcross. Two men walked into the business, brandished firearms and demanded money. They stole money from the register and a purse containing cash and other personal property. One of the robbers carried his gun in his left hand. One of the robbers also wore a sweatshirt or jacket with the words "Dope Sport" printed on the back. The two robbers then fled the business and entered a dark-colored, four door sedan, possibly with a temporary registration, that was being driven by third person.

Two armed robberies were reported on the same night within an hour. The first one occurred around 8 p.m. Nov. 8 at Empress Massage at 1960 Day Drive Suite 300 in Duluth. As with other incidents, two men entered the store, acted like customers and within moments, pulled out their guns and demanded cash. They stole a purse containing cash and other items and money from the register for leaving the scene.

At 8:50 p.m. on the same night, BD Spa and Wellness Massage at 1525 East Park Place Boulevard in Stone Mountain was targeted when two men carried out the same M.O. by acting like they were customers. When they were told the business was closed, they both pulled out their weapons and demanded cash. One of the robbers struck a customer in the head with his handgun. The robbers stole a wallet from a customer as well as the employee's cellular telephone. The robbers then fled the business.

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