United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton
Middle District of Florida

LAKE WALES CAREER OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that United States District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Darryl Earl Moody (age 48, of Lake Wales) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring with his co-defendant, Timothy Toraine Jones, to rob three Lake Wales businesses—an IHOP restaurant, a Kangaroo convenience store, and a McDonald's restaurant—from September 2008 to January 2009.

On February 25, 2010, a jury found Moody guilty of two counts of conspiracy to rob the IHOP, Kangaroo, and McDonalds, and one count of possessing, carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to court documents, in each of the three robberies Moody and Jones used masks and gloves to conceal their identities and terrified their victims by holding them at gunpoint. The night of the IHOP robbery, Moody led police officers on a high-speed chase through Lake Wales, endangering the lives of the officers and other innocent motorists. Moody has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1980, which includes a string of theft and firearms-related offenses.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lake Wales Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff's Office . It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas N. Palermo, Josephine W. Thomas, and Mandy Riedel.