Tampa Man, Dirk Davis Pleads Guilty to Robbing Seminole Hard Rock Casino
Dirk Lawrence Davis (25, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to robbery and to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 7 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has been set for February 6, 2019.
According to court documents, on February 2, 2018, Davis entered the poker room of the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. He walked up to the teller window, brandished a firearm, and stated, “I don’t want to cause a scene. Give me hundreds.” The teller complied, giving Davis $20,000 in cash. Davis fled the casino on foot. Surveillance cameras captured the robbery. Multiple friends and family members of Davis identified him to law enforcement after seeing the surveillance footage on the news.
Photo/Joachim Kirchner
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Seminole Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
