Memphis, TN – Chastain Montgomery, Sr., 50, of Lavergne, TN, pleaded guilty today to seven
federal crimes committed during a six-month spree that included the murders of United States
Postal Service employees Paula Robinson and Judy Spray, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L.
Stanton III; Keith Fixel, Inspector in Charge of the Charlotte Division, United States Postal
Inspection Service; and Mark Gwyn, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Montgomery’s sentencing has been set for August 12, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. before Senior U.S.
District Judge Jon P. McCalla. He is facing consecutive life sentences in federal prison without
the possibility of parole.
Montgomery’s guilty plea means he will not face the death penalty for his crimes. Had the case
gone to trial and Montgomery been found guilty, a second unanimous vote of the jury on the
issue of capital punishment would have resulted in a death sentence.
“For the Spray and the Robinson/Croom families, today represents one more step on the road to
finding justice for their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Stanton. “The callous and
unconscionable nature of the murders of these two innocent women and dedicated federal
employees illustrates the depravity of these senseless crimes and underscores the importance of
ensuring that the defendant can never inflict this type of mayhem again.”
“Millions of Americans see postal workers serving their families as a comforting thought. That
makes the senseless murder of two innocent postal employees resonate with our country as a
whole and our employees on a deeply personal level,” said Inspector in Charge Fixel. “The
safety and security of postal employees is our highest priority and we are thankful for the hard
work and dedication of our Inspectors along with the other law enforcement agencies that helped
to bring this case to a conclusion.”
“We are grateful for the multi-agency effort that led to Montgomery’s capture and today’s
admission of guilt,” said TBI Director Gwyn. “Though it can never fully comfort the families of
the two women who died because of his actions, I hope it brings a small sense of comfort and
closure to know the man responsible will never go free.”
According to the facts alleged in the superseding indictment and revealed during subsequent
hearings, on October 18, 2010, Montgomery, Sr. and his son Chastain Montgomery, Jr. drove
from Nashville, TN to Henning, robbed the United States Post Office, and then murdered Sales
and Service Associate Robinson and Rural Carrier Associate Spray.
Following their crimes, they returned to Nashville. Eight days later, Montgomery, Jr. stole a
Nissan Frontier pick-up truck in Smyrna, TN and used it as the getaway vehicle following their
robbery at gunpoint of Southeast Financial Credit Union in Lavergne, TN on October 29, 2010.
One month later on November 29, 2010, the pair stole a Chevy Venture minivan and used it as a
getaway vehicle following the robbery at gunpoint of Mid-South Bank in Smyrna, TN.
On February 14, 2011, the pair made plans to leave the Middle Tennessee area. Montgomery, Jr.
carjacked a man and stole his Chevrolet pick-up truck, driving it from Nashville to Mason, TN.
During the journey he was observed by Chief Deputy Sheriff Mike Smothers of the Haywood
County Sheriff’s Department, who began a vehicular pursuit.
Chief Deputy Smothers reported that Montgomery, Jr. began driving at an excessive rate of
speed and veered into other lanes in what appeared to be an attempt to cause an auto accident.
Chief Deputy Smothers was joined in his pursuit by Mason Police Chief J. C. Paris.
When Montgomery, Jr. entered the town of Mason, he exited his vehicle and began shooting at
members of law enforcement and innocent civilians outside a nearby market. Chief Deputy
Smothers returned fire and struck Montgomery, Jr. who died at the scene.
Law enforcement immediately cordoned off the crime scene and began processing evidence.
While doing so, officials noticed Montgomery, Sr. cross the crime scene barrier and begin
moving toward the Chevy truck driven by his son. He was taken into custody and transported to
the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department. While there, Montgomery, Sr. was interviewed by
United States Postal Inspectors and made a full confession to all of his crimes.
Law enforcement confiscated a number of weapons and other items from the Mason crime scene,
including the Ruger 9mm pistol and the Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol used to kill Robinson
and Spray; a .45 caliber Glock pistol; a .380 pistol; two Mossburg 12 gauge shotguns; a
Remington 12 gauge shotgun; a Springfield 9mm pistol; a Rossi .357 Magnum revolver; large
amounts of ammunition; ski masks and latex gloves.
