By Associated Press - Saturday, May 10, 2014

MIAMI (AP) - A 19-year-old South Florida man who pleaded guilty to a string of violent armed robberies has been sentenced to 56 years in federal prison.

The sentence was imposed Friday by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore on Lionell Sanders of Miami.

Court documents show Sanders and his cohorts targeted food delivery drivers and taxi operators in August and September of last year. At least five separate times the group placed food orders or called for taxi service only to rob the drivers at gunpoint and assault them physically.

Sanders pleaded guilty to robbery, conspiracy and firearms charges brought as part of a federal-local violence reduction effort. Miami U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer says the initiative seeks to dismantle violent organizations and also provide job training and skills in needy neighborhoods.

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