A former Tallahassee mayoral candidate, Whitfield Leland III, is sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for armed robbery after he held up a Dollar General store. The court found Leland guilty of Hobbs Act Robbery, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal.
Previously a candidate for public office, Leland was apprehended following a botched robbery on May 20, 2024, where a customer alerted authorities as he attempted to escape disguised in a store manager’s shirt. With a criminal record that includes 13 felonies and multiple violent offenses, Leland’s sentencing reflects the serious nature of his actions, which also includes a five-year supervised release and restitution payments.
Read full story at www.orlandosentinel.com
