A Suffolk man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for his involvement in a crime spree that targeted workers at Chinese restaurants in Hampton Roads.

Raheem Lorinzo Lacey, 23, served as the getaway driver during three armed robberies that occurred during July and August last year. He and two co-conspirators waited outside the restaurants until they closed, followed workers home and then robbed them, stealing a total of $4,500 in cash and valuables.

The robberies happened in Chesapeake on July 28 and Aug. 9 and in Portsmouth on Aug. 14, according to a document filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The three robbed China Moon in Chesapeake, China Ocean in Chesapeake and China Ocean in Portsmouth. In each robbery, the group followed two employees home after they closed up the restaurant for the evening. Two co-conspirators brandished firearms and demanded money and valuables, according to the court document.

In the first robbery, the robbers took cash, credit and debit cards and a wallet, according to the court document.

In the second robbery, they took a purse and other items from the first victim, according to the court document. When they attempted to take the second victim’s purse, she resisted. A short struggle ensued, and one of the robbers struck her on the head with his firearm. The two victims were robbed of about $2,000 cash, half of which was proceeds from the restaurant, as well as purses, wallets, iPhones and bank cards.

In the third robbery, according to the court document, the robbers got a bank card and identification cards, cash and an iPhone.