4 Members of Robbery Crew Convicted in Tapper's Heist

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI – Four Philadelphia men have been convicted in the armed robbery of a high-end West Bloomfield jewelry store and an attempted robbery in Grand Rapids in April 2014, authorities said.

The four men — Nathaniel Pembrook, 43; David Briley, 46; Saheed Calhoun, 36; and Orlando Johnson, 42, — were all convicted of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, interference with interstate commerce by robbery, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm.

The four men were part of a six-person robbery crew, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said in a statement.

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Briley, Calhoun and Johnson robbed Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry in West Bloomfield on April 22, 2014. Pembrook was shot and injured by the owner of the Paul Medawar Fine Jewelry during a holdup in Grand Rapids. In that attempt, one of the robbers smashed a Rolex watch display case with a hammer while the three others, one of them armed, looked for other valuables in the back of the store, prosecutors said.

With Pembrook injured, the other three, armed with handguns, entered Tappers about five hours later and ordered employees and shoppers to the floor, then robbed the store on Orchard Lake Road. They were out of the store within two minutes.

They discovered that Pembrook reportedly checked himself into a Pennsylvania hospital on April 23, 2014, and a bullet removed from his arm matched the one fired by the jewelry store owner in Grand Rapids. Blood at the scene also matched Pembrook’s.

Authorities said video and cell phone information placed the four men at both stores at the time of the robberies.

“These convictions are a great example of collaboration by law enforcement agencies across state lines,” U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said in a statement. “Criminals sometimes cross state lines to commit their crimes in hopes that no one will recognize them, but investigators in this case were able to use cell phone technology, DNA, surveillance video and other evidence to identify these robbers.”

West Bloomfield Police Chief Michael Patton said the arrests and convictions resulted from multi-jurisdictional cooperation.

“The entire West Bloomfield community is pleased to hear that all of the identified suspects of the armed robbery at Tapper’s Fine Jewelry have been convicted,” he said. “These convictions would not have been possible without the unyielding persistence and cooperation of the local, county, state and federal authorities involved in this case. We are immensely grateful for their efforts and professionalism.”

The other two members of the six-person crew have not yet been identified. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at (313) 965-2323.