Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty in String of Twelve Armed Business Robberies

Memphis, TN – On December 4, 2025, a federal jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case of a Memphis-based convicted felon, Fredrick Buford, 29, who was charged with committing a series of armed robberies of businesses in the summer of 2022.  Buford faces a mandatory statutory minimum of 75 years in federal prison. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

According to information presented in court, Buford conducted a series of armed robberies of local businesses in Memphis, Tennessee:

• May 23, 2022: Dollar General, 3129 Thomas Street
• May 23, 2022: Family Dollar, 1688 Jackson Avenue
• May 29, 2022: Exxon, 4491 Poplar Avenue
• May 29, 2022: Mapco, 979 East Brooks Road (Buford broke into the store and threatened to shoot the store employee. However, he was not successful in obtaining money.)
• June 4, 2022: Dollar General, 2469 Elvis Presley Boulevard
• June 6, 2022: Dollar General, 1760 Winchester Road
• June 6, 2022: Mapco, 3333 Thomas Street
• June 11, 2022: Family Dollar, 2743 North Watkins Street
• June 11, 2022: Dollar General, 1294 Lamar Avenue
• June 12, 2022: Family Dollar, 3255 Hickory Hill Road
• June 15, 2022: Dollar General, 2939 Lamar Avenue
• June 16, 2022: Dollar General, 2245 Lamar Avenue

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury by the simple squeeze of a trigger. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and interstate commerce, which victimizes the entire community. Within the short span of 25 days, this recidivist violent offender’s selfish and impulsive greed terrorized multiple victims across our city – and will rightly earn him a long sentence in a federal prison."

“This guilty verdict should serve as a reminder that the FBI will not waver when it comes to protecting Tennesseans and taking dangerous criminals off the streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "The FBI will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement via task forces and other relationships to ensure the safety of our communities."

After a four-day trial, Buford was convicted on December 4, 2025 of eleven counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and eleven counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Sentencing is set on March 24, 2026 before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris.

The FBI Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Will Crow and Eileen Kuo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.