FBI arrests TikTok star Chozen Terrell-Hannah following robbery spree
Detroit — Federal brokers investigating a collection of armed robberies across Metro Detroit have arrested a preferred TikTok character right after he was noticed dancing in what investigators described as his stick-up sneakers.
Redford Township resident Chozen Terrell-Hannah, 22, admitted robbing 4 shops soon after investigators raided his dwelling Wednesday despite eyewitnesses describing the armed thief as a white gentleman, in accordance to the FBI. Terrell-Hannah is African-American.
A criminal grievance describes a 3-month crime spree concentrating on retail outlets, extravagant footwear and a federal investigation aided by dozens of temporary video clips posted to Terrell-Hannah’s TikTok account “ChozenWrld,” which has a lot more than 148,000 followers and 1.6 million likes.
Terrell-Hannah is remaining held without the need of bond though awaiting a detention hearing Monday in federal court in Detroit. He is charged with theft affecting interstate commerce and possessing a firearm through a violent crime, rates that could end result in a jail sentence of a lot more than 20 several years.
His court-appointed lawyer, James Gerometta, declined remark Friday.
The investigation started Dec. 1 just after a gentleman donning black pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, a black ski mask and white sneakers, and carrying a black backpack decorated with pink bouquets, robbed the 7-Eleven in the 700 block of Benstein in Commerce Township.
He pointed a black handgun at the clerk, collected money and fled.
A lot more than one particular month afterwards, on Jan. 13, a man carrying a comparable outfit, carrying a comparable backpack, robbed the Marathon gasoline station in the 23000 block of Ford Street in Dearborn.
The robber demanded dollars while pressing a black handgun into the clerk’s again in advance of fleeing with money. He grabbed an 18-pack of cigars though leaving the retail store in which investigators would quickly locate a clue: a .40-caliber bullet near the counter.
On Jan. 26, a in the same way dressed man, carrying a black backpack embellished with pink bouquets, robbed the exact same 7-Eleven on Benstein in Commerce Township. He demanded cash.
“The clerk initially refused but complied immediately after the issue pulled back again the slide of the gun in a movement of chambering a spherical and ejected a round onto the counter,” an FBI undertaking pressure officer wrote in the complaint. “This spherical, which was recovered later on, was .40 caliber.”
Then, the robber fled.
The fourth robbery took place at an Outdated West Tobacco retail outlet in the 45000 block of West Pontiac Trail in Novi on Feb. 1. This time, the robber was explained as a male donning the similar clothes as the previously robberies, but investigators noticed pink or crimson hair rising from the black ski mask.
“Following the funds was positioned into the bag, the matter took quite a few containers of cigars and then fled the retail store,” the FBI process power officer wrote.
A tipster led Dearborn law enforcement investigators to a achievable suspect with the account “Chozenn_1” on the Snapchat phone app. Investigators figured out the account had been changed to “ChozenWrld” and they later on uncovered a TikTok profile with the similar name.
The account and videos helped Dearborn investigators establish Terrell-Hannah, in accordance to the prison criticism.
His actual physical properties are consistent with eyewitness accounts, the FBI process drive officer wrote, while some victims estimated that the robber was taller, and a white guy.
“Centered on my coaching and working experience, I feel due to (Terrell-Hannah’s) light complexion, the victims of armed robberies, observing him under the instances and wearing the clothes described earlier mentioned, could describe him as both white or black,” the FBI process pressure officer wrote.
Investigators concentrated on TikTok video clips that confirmed Terrell-Hannah dancing and lip-syncing with a head of hair partly dyed pinkish purple.
They mentioned a Sept. 24, 2020, put up that highlighted Terrell-Hannah dancing in white Nike tennis footwear with crimson accents.
“These footwear are identical in visual appeal to the sneakers worn in the earlier mentioned referenced armed robberies,” the FBI endeavor pressure officer wrote.
Investigators commenced surveilling Terrell-Hannah on Feb. 9 outside the house his dwelling in Redford Township and in the ensuing times, such as a Feb. 11 take a look at to an spot Pet Provides In addition. And they checked law enforcement databases and observed a telephone range for Terrell-Hannah, which led to investigators obtaining a search warrant for the phone’s historical location information.
The data showed that the place of the cellphone “was dependable with staying in the geographic area of/all-around the places of the earlier mentioned-described armed robberies all-around the claimed moments for each incident,” the FBI activity pressure officer wrote.
The information also showed the cellphone in close proximity to Pet Supplies Additionally on Feb. 11.
Investigators raided his residence Wednesday.
“A research of the home led to the seizure of merchandise considered to be employed in the armed robberies which include a black Glock handgun, a black backpack with a floral pattern, a skeleton full system go well with, and white Nike tennis shoes,” the FBI job power officer wrote.
Terrell-Hannah later talked with investigators.
“(He) admitted to committing all 4 of the previously mentioned-explained armed robberies and acknowledged making use of the black backpack with a floral sample in all 4 of the armed robberies,” the officer wrote. “(Terrell-Hannah) stated that skeleton gloves noticed in the course of the armed robberies were being truly section of a total physique skeleton fit.”
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