EUGENE, Ore. — A Bend man was sentenced Wednesday to over 10 years in federal prison for a 2024 violent armed robbery at a local cannabis shop, where his handgun jammed twice as he tried to shoot.

Russell Ian Boggess, 43, was sentenced to 125 months in prison and five years’ supervised release for robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

According to court documents, on July 23, 2024, Boggess robbed Top Shelf Medicine, a cannabis dispensary on NE Greenwood Avenue, near Pilot Butte.

Boggess was armed with a 9mm handgun, carried a bag and wore a bandana covering his face, prosecutors said. He pointed his gun at an employee and demanded they give him marijuana stored behind the counter.

"While pointing the gun near the employee, Boggess tried to fire the gun twice, but it jammed both times," Wednesday's news release said.

"Boggess then walked behind the counter and took the marijuana himself. Boggess also pistol-whipped the employee when they tried to call 911," prosecutors said.

Boggess ran off with the stolen marijuana, but the getaway ended quickly when people outside the shop tackled and held him until Bend Police arrived to take the gun and make an arrest.

The recovered gun contained a 34-round magazine. It was later test-fired and was found to be operational, prosecutors said.

On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Boggess with interference with commerce by threats or violence, felon in possession of ammunition, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

He pleaded guilty in July of this year to charges of interference with commerce by robbery and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.

The robbery charge carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to federal prosecutors.

The firearm charge carried a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life, which must be served consecutively to any other prison time.

The case was investigated by FBI and BPD. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Nelson and Assistant U.S. Attorney William McLaren.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe.

Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.

As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe.

PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.

These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.