Michael Deon Woulard of Gainesville pleaded guilty on Mar. 17 to robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, according to U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Woulard, age 49, faces a minimum sentence of 14 years and could receive up to two life terms plus an additional 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The charges stem from three separate robberies that took place between October 2023 and February 2024. According to the plea agreement, Woulard robbed a pawn shop in Jacksonville on October 10, stealing goods valued at about $45,945. On November 25, he robbed a jewelry store in Jacksonville while brandishing a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry worth approximately $352,000.
Woulard committed another robbery on February 20 at a jewelry store in Ocala, again using a semi-automatic pistol to threaten employees before taking jewelry valued at around $364,000. He was arrested the following day while in possession of several stolen items from the most recent robbery. During questioning by investigators from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, Woulard admitted his involvement in both jewelry store robberies.
Authorities said that Erica Jordan Patrick, identified as Woulard’s co-defendant, previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the November robbery by casing the store and pointing out specific items for Woulard to target.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with local law enforcement agencies including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian is prosecuting the case.
