S.T. Vaughn III and Douglas "Kenny" Cross Jr. -- two former collegiate scholarship swimmers from Raleigh -- will walk into a federal courthouse in Gainesville, Fla., today and find out whether they will spend their lives in prison.
Vaughn and Cross, both 21, graduated in 2003 from Southeast Raleigh and Millbrook high schools, respectively, with promising futures as competitive swimmers at Florida A&M University.
By early 2005, they had met Gerald "J.R." Raymond, 27, a former convict and graduate of Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham. Several months later, the trio went on a crime spree, robbing as many as 50 hotels, check-cashing stores and other businesses mainly along interstates in Florida and Georgia.
The spree didn't end until August 2005. That was when Vaughn was arrested in Raleigh, where he and Raymond had committed three robberies.
In April, the three men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robberies over a five-month period. Vaughn and Raymond pleaded guilty to five federal charges, while Cross pleaded guilty to two charges. Cross' attorney says his client played a minor role in the robberies.
U.S. District Judge Stephan Mickle is expected to sentence the men today after what will likely be a lengthy court hearing. Vaughn's attorneys, Nick Saparilas and Robert Nunley, both of Raleigh, plan to have Vaughn's parents and pastor testify. Cross' attorney might call up to four character witnesses. Raymond is expected to take the stand.
Prosecutors will play a DVD showing footage captured by surveillance cameras of several of the robberies. And they plan to have up to 10 victims testify about their physical and emotional trauma, which might include one woman who was sexually assaulted and another who was hit on the head with a pellet pistol so hard that the handle broke.
The crimes
Based on court records, incident reports and interviews, Vaughn, Cross and Raymond targeted small businesses with one or two female employees. Raymond would enter the store to look around and report back to the others. A short time later, the three would enter the business. Vaughn would vault the counter armed with a small revolver. Cross would use duct tape to bind the clerks' arms and legs. Raymond would raid the cash drawers and safes.
"On several occasions, female victims were sexually assaulted, and other victims were struck, slapped, kicked and dragged," according to court records. Prosecutors say Raymond and Vaughn committed sexual assaults, but Vaughn's attorney denied that.
Thirteen robberies in the summer of 2005 netted more than $64,000 in cash and almost $2,000 in jewelry and other items, according to court and police records. The full extent of the crime spree might never be known, said Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Jerome Sanford of Gainesville.
Many who know Vaughn and Cross are shocked, saying in interviews and letters to the judge that the men came from strong families and faced bright futures.
The late state Rep. Bernard Allen of Raleigh wrote about Vaughn, "We don't understand what happened, what prompted any criminal behavior, but it is definitely 100 percent out of character for him."
Timothy McGinnis of Raleigh, whose son swam with Cross, wrote, "Kenny Cross, deep down, is a good person and these crimes are not representative of his past character or behavior."
Even Sanford, the prosecutor, said, "They have been so polite, so articulate, perfect gentlemen. It just strikes you -- what did they think they were doing?"
