Man Convicted In Gucci Store Robbery

Gunmen Broke Into Prime Outlet Mall, Held Security Guard Hostage

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A jury deliberated for about an hour and 20 minutes Wednesday before finding a 31-year-old man guilty in a hostage situation and robbery at the Prime Outlet Mall in April.

Dwayne Middleton was convicted of kidnapping, principal to criminal mischief, principal to burglary to an unoccupied structure, grand theft, and robbery with a firearm on the property of the Gucci store.

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A sentencing date is set for Nov. 8. Middleton is facing life in prison.

Two other men were arrested and another was being sought in connection with the robbery. They were all accused of holding a security guard hostage before making off with merchandise from the Gucci store.

The 35-year-old guard told deputies he was sitting in his security truck at the entrance to the mall about 2:30 a.m. April 23 when a small car pulled up, one occupant got out of the car with a handgun and ordered him to get down.

While the guard was being watched by one gunman, three other men drove up to the Gucci store and used a crowbar to force their way inside, deputies said. After taking the guard's keys and cell phone, they drove away deputies said.

St. Johns County deputies were notified about 2:30 a.m. and quickly located a car matching the description of the robbers' vehicle on Interstate 95 north of International Golf Parkway. The vehicle refused to pull over, instead speeding away at up to 100 mph, exiting on County Road 210, deputies said.

When the driver lost control of the car at Sandy Creek Parkway, four people got out and ran into the woods.

Three of the suspects, identified as Paul Campbell, 28, Tony Johnson, 18, and Dwayne Middleton, 30, came out of the woods and were arrested.

Deputies said at the time they had not located the fourth subject.

Deputies said the car had been reported stolen from Orange Park. They said all of the merchandise from Gucci had been recovered in the vehicle.


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