Two Monticello men, Lance Tate Jr., 19, and Johnny B. Davis, Jr., 22, who is a reputed member of the Bloods street gang, were sentenced on March 28 to significant prison terms for participation in a violent robbery, during which they stole a lawfully possessed handgun from its registered owner.

District Attorney Jim Farrell announced today that the men pleaded guilty, admitting that they and an associate beat the victim and stole the gun. Tate was sentenced to 10 years in state prison, with five years of post-release supervision. Davis, who assisted Tate, was sentenced five years in state prison, with five years of post-release supervision. The associate, Zarius Brown, was separately sentenced to 13 years in prison in connection with this and a separate shooting incident.

Farrell said, “These sentences underscore my commitment to seeing that criminals who seek out illegal guns and will stop at nothing to violate the security of law-abiding gun owners will be brought to justice.” Assistant District Attorney Meagan Galligan handled the prosecution of this case.