A 49-year-old Gainesville man is facing a minimum of 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a string of armed robberies, including a high-value heist at an Ocala jewelry store.
Michael Deon Woulard entered a guilty plea for robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime last week. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe following an investigation involving the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Woulard targeted an Ocala jewelry store on February 20, 2024. During the incident, he brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees before fleeing with jewelry valued at approximately $364,000.
Woulard was apprehended the following day while still in possession of numerous items allegedly stolen during the Ocala robbery. During an interview with investigators from the Ocala Police Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Woulard admitted to the crime.
The Ocala case was part of a larger robbery spree that began in late 2023. Woulard also admitted to an October 2023 pawn shop robbery in Jacksonville involving nearly $46,000 in goods, and a November 2023 jewelry store robbery in Jacksonville where he stole $352,000 worth of merchandise.
A co-defendant, Erica Jordan Patrick, previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the November 2023 robbery in Jacksonville by casing the store and identifying specific targets for Woulard.
In addition to the Ocala Police Department and the FBI, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Woulard now faces a potential maximum sentence of up to two life terms plus 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.