DETROIT -- A federal jury today convicted a former motorcycle gang member of first degree murder for fatally shooting an armored car guard nearly a decade ago during a robbery of $204,000 at the ATM outside Dearborn FCU, now known as DFCU Financial.
After three days of deliberations, the jury convicted Kevin Watson, 41, of killing Total Armored guard Norman Stephens, a father of six who was shot in the back while delivering money to ATMs on Dec. 14, 2001.
Watson is the second of five assailants convicted of shooting Stephens, with co-defendant Timothy O’Reilly convicted earlier of the murder.Watson faces mandatory life in prison.
O’Reilly, who faced the death penalty, was convicted in 2010, but spared a death sentence because the jury couldn’t conclude who pulled the trigger. O’Reilly also received a life sentence, without the possibility of parole.
During Watson’s trial, prosecutors told jurors that Watson and five cohorts stole $204,000 during the robbery at the credit union outside Fairlane Mall. The crime went unsolved for several years until cooperating witnesses came forward with information.
“For the victim’s family, this verdict cannot remedy the loss of a husband and father,” U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said. “But we hope that this federal prosecution and the mandatory life sentence that goes with it will deter others from committing such brutal crimes in the future.”
A sentencing date has not been set for Watson. He was convicted of first degree murder with a firearm during a federal crime of violence, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, and bank robbery murder.
