DETROIT – One by one, victims who were robbed at gunpoint by a 23-year-old Detroit man shared how traumatically he had taken their sense of security and trust.
Sabrena Session, a cancer survivor, told the court at Kevin Smith's sentencing on Wednesday that she thought going through chemotherapy and radiation was the worst thing that happened to her.
"But this totally messed me up all around," she said. "I can never get back my before, the before he entered my life."
READ: Jury deliverates for man accused of shooting federal judge outside Detroit home
READ: Judge testifies about shooting outside Detroit home
Prosecutors said Smith led a group who robbery ring who stole jewelry, money and other valuables from victims between January 2015 and May 2015 - which was just months after Smith was released from prison after serving time for home invasion convictions.
Another robbery victim, Charles Bryant, said he's lived in Detroit since the early 1970s and never felt unsafe.
"This changed my life in a way that I could never get back," Bryant said. "Now, every time I make a move, I have to look around ... that's a hard feeling."
A jury convicted Smith last month of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and gun charges. He was also originally charged with armed robbery and assault with intent to murder in the shooting of federal Judge Terrence Berg, who was shot in the leg outside his University District home in March 2015. But the jury did not convict him on those charges after Berg testified that the man who shot him had distinctive eyes, but he couldn't identify Smith as the shooter.
"My hope here is that Mr. Smith can somehow heal," Berg said.
Video: Judge Berg testifies about shooting
Judge Timothy Kenny called Smith a danger to the community who led a "band of vicious criminal."
He sentenced Smith to two to 10 years concurrently with the conspiracy charge.