Three men accused of robbing a man and sexually assaulting a woman at the Tropicana Casino back in May of 2011 were found guilty on Tuesday.
A jury convicted Brandon Cooper, 22, Brent Johnson, 22, and Leon Peterson, 19 of the robbery of Mohammed Sheikh. Johnson and Cooper were also found guilty of the robbery and sexual assault of a woman who was with Sheikh.
On May 28, 2011, at 4 a.m., the Atlantic City Police Department responded to a robbery report at the Tropicana Casino parking garage. When they arrived, police say they were informed by security that two men believed to have fled the scene of a robbery were inside an elevator. When officers arrived at the elevator they placed the two men, later identified as Cooper and Johnson, into custody. Investigators also say Johnson had a BB gun tucked inside his waistband.
Peterson was also spotted by security and arrested by police. Police say they found Sheikh bleeding inside the hotel. He told investigators the three men punched and kicked him in the head and face during a robbery in the garage. He also told police he had been separated from his female friend. When they found the woman, she told police she had been sexually assaulted by Cooper and Johnson.
All three suspects were charged with robbery and weapons offenses. Johnson and Cooper were also charged with aggravated sexual assault.
After a week-long trial, the jury found the three men guilty on all but one count. Peterson was convicted of one count of first-degree robbery and weapons offenses. Johnson and Cooper were found guilty of two counts of first-degree robbery, weapons offenses, one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault.
All three men are scheduled for sentencing on October 1.
