Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has been sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison for participating in two armed robberies in the city last December.

25-year-old Byron Rush was described by police as homeless when he was arrested as a suspect in a holdup at the Fairfield Inn and Suites on December 9th. He was convicted of a 1st-degree aggravated robbery charge earlier this week and then entered into a plea agreement to settle charges connected to an armed robbery at a Rochester tanning business on December 18th by entering an Alford plea to a charge of 2nd-degree aggravated robbery.

Police say four people were involved in the hotel robbery, during which a gun was held to the head of an employee before the robbers fled with around $300 cash. During the holdup at the Sun Tan City business, an employee was pistol-whipped by one of the two robbers.

Charges have been filed against a second suspect in the tanning business robbery. 21-year-old Dushawn Minor of Rochester is facing two counts of first-degree aggravated robbery and is due back in court for an evidentiary hearing later this month.

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