A 24-year-old Lexington man will spend more than two decades behind bars following a chaotic 48-hour crime wave that spanned two Kentucky cities. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell sentenced Maurice Curry to 288 months in federal prison, marking the end of a legal saga that began with a series of armed holdups in the fall of 2023.
The charges against Curry were extensive, including five counts of Hobbs Act robbery and multiple firearms offenses, specifically for possessing and brandishing weapons during crimes of violence.
According to court records, the spree took place during the early morning hours of September 10 and 11, 2023. Over that short window, Curry targeted five different businesses across Lexington and Frankfort.
During the encounters, Curry didn’t just demand cash; investigators say he threatened the lives of store clerks while armed with both a handgun and a taser. The violence resulted in physical injuries for two of the victims. The spree finally came to a halt in Frankfort, where police apprehended Curry following a high-speed pursuit.
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Because this is a federal case, the sentencing comes with strict requirements. Curry is mandated by law to serve at least 85 percent of his 24-year term. Once he is eventually released, he will remain under the watchful eye of the U.S. Probation Office for an additional five years.
The stiff sentence was the result of a massive collaborative effort between local and federal agencies. The case was investigated by the ATF alongside the Lexington and Frankfort Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker handled the prosecution.
The final judgment was jointly announced by a group of high-ranking officials, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman, ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, and Frankfort Police Chief Derrick Napier.
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