Man sentenced for dollar store robberies

A Gulfport man is sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for armed robbery.
According to the Department of Justice, this sentencing comes after 32-year-old Joseph Towner Jr. pled guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Officials say he will have to pay thousands in restitution to Dollar General, Family Dollar and an individual. Once the restitution is paid, Towner will pay a fine of $20,000.
The charges in this case stem from a series of armed robberies of Dollar General and Family Dollar stores in Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, and D’Iberville in 2014.