ATLANTA — The two men who FBI officials said are behind a rash of spa and restaurant robberies appeared in federal court on Tuesday.
In the hearing, a judge found enough evidence to keep the case going and to keep the two suspects in jail.
Investigators said 22-year-old Tabyron Smith and 22-year-old Dravion Ware were connected to the robberies of 10 spas and restaurants across the metro, from Duluth to Stone Mountain to Atlanta.
Both men appeared before a federal magistrate judge at the Richard B. Russell Building.
An FBI agent testified about receiving a tip he said connected Smith to surveillance video that Channel 2 Action News aired.
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The agent testified he connected Ware to the crimes because of a previous encounter Ware had with police while with Smith in Douglas County.
Ware's attorney questioned whether comparing mug shots to surveillance video was enough but in the end, the judge found probable cause and cause to keep both men detained.
They are still looking for a third, unnamed person, who participated in a few of the robberies.
Local business owners react
The Kochi Maru restaurant on Buford Highway remains closed nearly a month after a violent attack on customers and employees.
Ibonne Ozuna is still in disbelief about what the FBI said happened at the restaurant across the parking lot from her Doraville ice cream parlor.
Surveillance video from October 24t shows the attack that ended with two customers and a restaurant employee shot.
"For now, I'm scared because you don't know what happened, you know?” Ozuna said.
Cox Media Group
