BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Stephen Herkins, Fresno County District Attorney Elizabeth A. Egan, and Fresno Chief of Police Jerry Dyer announced Tuesday that a jury returned a guilty verdict against Marcus Major, 24, and Jordan Huff, 25, both of Fresno on all counts of a 62-count indictment following a six week trial.

Major and Huff were charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, six counts of using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 24 counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and 30 counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

The charges against these defendants arose as a result of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department, joined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of a series of armed robberies that occurred in Fresno and Madera between December 24, 2005 and July 24, 2006.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal Service, the Madera Sheriff’s Office, and the Madera Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The investigation culminated with the indictment on June 14, 2007, of Major, Huff, Keith Rose, 22, Victor Murray, 22, Porcha Neal, 20, and Damien Rideaux, 22, and Dwayne Perry, 21, all of Fresno, for various federal crimes. Murray pleaded guilty to two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

As a result, he is facing a maximum of life imprisonment, and a mandatory minimum of 32 years imprisonment, and is pending sentencing.

Rose pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As a result, he is facing a maximum of life imprisonment, and has agreed to request a sentence of 25 years imprisonment, and is pending sentencing.

As a result of their convictions, Huff and Major are facing a maximum of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of over 700 years imprisonment.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Sanchez and Kathy Servatius who prosecuted the case, the evidence adduced at trial established that on December 24, 2005, Huff, Major, Murray and an unindicted coconspirator began the series of robberies by robbing the AM PM on Ashlan in Fresno, California.

Between that time and July 24, 2006, Major, Huff and Murray conspired to commit 29 additional armed robberies, mainly of convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores.

The testimony established that Huff was the driver and conducted surveillance while Major and Murray committed the armed robberies.

Huff and Major committed a few of the armed robberies on their own.

Rose joined the conspiracy towards the end of the series of robberies, participating in 6 or 7 armed robberies.

The evidence established that the defendants fired their guns in numerous of the robberies, and in one robbery at Mickey’s Liquor, testimony established that Major shot the store owner resulting in grave injuries necessitating multiple surgeries for the victim.

Rideaux and Perry both pleaded guilty to an information that charged each of them with committing a misprison of a felony for their role in trying to assist Major escape from police after the robbery of the Bulldog Liquor store on July 24, 2006. Perry is serving a 21 month sentence and Rideaux is serving a 36 month sentence with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The businesses that were robbed in the series of robberies for which Huff and Major were convicted were:

The AM PM convenience store at 3327 W. Ashlan, Fresno, California (twice)

The Valero Gas Station at 1040 S. Gateway, Madera, California (twice)

The Valero Gas Station at 1105 W. Shields, Fresno, California

The Y & G T-shirt at 2704 N. Blackstone, Fresno, California

The RS Discount at 3016 W. Olive, Fresno, California (twice)

The Parkway Mini Mart at 5510 W. Shaw, Fresno, California

The AM PM convenience store at 12199 Golden State, Madera, California

The G-Mart at 1615 N. Maple, Fresno, California; the Evergreen Food Mart at 2414 N. Marks, Fresno, California

The Liquor Zone at 1452 W. Ashlan, Fresno, California

The Fast Trip at 1798 E. Clinton, Fresno, California (twice)

The Jack In The Box at 3058 W. Clinton, Fresno, California

The Fair Price Market at 2717 N. Hughes, Fresno, California

The Get N Go at 5210 Tulare St., Fresno, California

MCL Market at 2336 N. Fresno, California (twice)

Mickey's Liquor at 440 W. Shields, Fresno, California

Broadway Liquor at 3610 W. Shaw, Fresno, California (twice)

The Quick Pick at 4602 E. Church, Fresno, California

Church Market at 4620 E. Church, Fresno, California

The Dollar Tree at 3730 N. Blackstone, Fresno, California

Keg and Cork Liquor at 3057 E. Ashlan, Fresno, California (twice)

Bulldog Liquor at 4968 N. Cedar, Fresno, California

The case ultimately was investigated jointly by the Fresno Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT), which focused federal resources on specific high-crime areas of Fresno, consisting of Special Agents from ATF, officers of the Fresno Police Department, and deputies from the United States Marshal’s Service.

Neal, who was charged as being a co-conspirator in the robbery of the Dollar Tree at 3730 N. Blackstone was acquitted Tuesday.

Huff and Major are scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2010 by the Honorable Lawrence J. O’Neill. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables, and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.