Suspect Returns to Jonesboro for 2018 Newspaper Delivery Robbery Case

JONESBORO, Ark. — A suspect who has been implicated in several crimes across the Mid-South was recently brought back to Jonesboro to face charges stemming from a 2018 robbery of a newspaper delivery driver.

Diarrius Cartell Carter, 26, of West Memphis, appeared before Judge Barbara Halsey on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for his bond hearing. Bail was set at $100,000 cash or surety. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 27.

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The Jonesboro Police Department received a call at approximately 5:20 AM on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, that a subject had been held at gunpoint while his vehicle was stolen. The victim told responding officers that he was at 207 N. Main Street and was delivering newspapers to the Exxon Gas Station. While parked at the gas station, another vehicle pulled up near him, and two unknown subjects exited. The two subjects approached the victim, and one pointed a handgun at him. They got in his vehicle, and then both automobiles drove away.

On Aug. 31, 2018, a carjacking occurred in Memphis, and Carter was identified as a suspect. The suspects fled from police and crossed into Arkansas, where Carter was arrested in Hazen. On Sept. 4, Jonesboro police visited Carter at the Prairie County Jail. According to police, he admitted his involvement in the Aug. 26 robbery in Jonesboro, saying he acted as the lookout.

A bench warrant was issued for Carter. However, he faced charges in Tennessee before he could be extradited back to Jonesboro. The probable cause affidavit states the MPD Violent Crimes Unit was investigating the group in connection with multiple carjackings. Records show he was transferred on May 22, 2025. He faces charges of aggravated robbery, a Class Y felony, and theft of a vehicle, a Class D felony.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Two other defendants were charged in the case. Fabian Jerome Burks, 18, pleaded guilty to robbery, with the state dropping the theft and probation revocation charges. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail and 60 months on probation.

Christopher Tyrone Shaw, 17, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and theft of property, greater than $1,000 but less than $5,000. He was sentenced on Aug. 7, 2019, to ten years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. He became eligible for early release in August 2024, but inmate records show that Shaw has been insubordinate during most of his prison stay, with the Wrightsville Unit giving him a maximum risk score in 2024.

• Group Disruption 11/28/2019
• Theft Or Possession Of Stolen Property 11/28/2019
• Insolence To A Staff Member 04/03/2020
• Failure To Obey Order 04/03/2020
• Unexcused Absence 04/07/2020
• Group Disruption 05/06/2020
• Battery 05/06/2020
• Destruction Of Property 03/07/2021
• Aggravated Battery 03/07/2021
• Possession/Manufacture Of Contraband 03/07/2021
• Trafficking And Trading 10/14/2022
• Unauthorized Use Of Mail Or Telephone 10/14/2022
• Unauthorized Communication 10/14/2022
• Unexcused Absence 07/06/2023
• Battery 07/18/2023
• Insolence To A Staff Member 08/26/2023
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 11/24/2023
• Out Of Place Assignment 11/24/2023
• Out Of Place Assignment 12/12/2023
• Battery 12/14/2023
• Failure To Obey Order 04/11/2024
• Insolence To A Staff Member 04/11/2024
• Sexual Activity 04/11/2024
• Interfering With Operations 04/21/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 04/21/2024
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 04/21/2024
• Group Disruption 05/09/2024
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 05/09/2024
• Interfering With Count 05/09/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 05/09/2024
• Battery 05/25/2024
• Refusal To Submit To Substance Abuse Testing 05/25/2024
• Aggravated Battery 05/25/2024
• Possession/Manufacture Of Contraband 05/25/2024
• Unauthorized Use Of State Property/Supplies 05/25/2024
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 05/29/2024
• Interfering With Operations 05/29/2024
• Insolence To A Staff Member 05/31/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 05/31/2024
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 05/31/2024
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 06/09/2024
• Unexcused Absence 07/15/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 07/15/2024
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 07/17/2024
• Threat(s) To Inflict Injury 07/25/2024
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 07/25/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 07/25/2024
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 07/25/2024
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 07/25/2024
• Insolence To A Staff Member 07/25/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 08/18/2024
• Sexual Activity 08/18/2024
• Unexcused Absence 08/30/2024
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 09/30/2024
• Insolence To A Staff Member 09/30/2024
• Failure To Obey Order 10/06/2024
• Interfering With Count 10/06/2024
• Interfering With Operations 10/06/2024
• Out Of Place Assignment 10/06/2024
• Unexcused Absence 10/15/2024
• Battery 10/17/2024
• Threat(s) To Inflict Injury 10/17/2024
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 01/18/2025
• Failure To Obey Order 01/18/2025
• Out Of Place Assignment 01/18/2025
• Refusal To Submit To Substance Abuse Testing 01/21/2025
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 01/21/2025
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 03/14/2025
• Unnecessary Noise Or Play 03/14/2025
• Failure To Obey Order 03/14/2025
• Unauthorized Use Of Mail Or Telephone 03/19/2025
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 04/08/2025
• Out Of Place Assignment 04/08/2025
• Refusing A Direct Verbal Order 05/15/2025

Shaw is currently housed at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Lee County.