DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of New York

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Richard S. Hartunian
, United States Attorney
Contact: John Duncan

Watertown Man Enters Guilty Plea to Firearms and Armed Robbery Charges

RICHARD S. HARTUNIAN, United States Attorney, Northern District of New York announces that ROBERT A. WILLIAMS (22, of Watertown, NY) entered a guilty plea to the felony offenses of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). The defendant is facing a statutory maximum of life, a mandatory minimum of 25 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.00 per count of conviction. WILLIAMS is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2014, before the Honorable Glenn T. Suddaby in Syracuse, NY.

During the plea hearing on July 8, 2014, WILLIAMS admitted the following. On July 31, 2013 at approximately 12:41 am, WILLIAMS and another male entered Sunoco located at 1222 Washington Street, Watertown, New York intending to commit a robbery. After entering Sunoco, WILLIAMS pointed a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun at the store clerk and stated "give me your money." The clerk then opened the cash register drawer and placed approximately $513.00 in United States currency in a store bag. At the same time, the other male removed approximately $395.00 in tobacco products from behind the counter and instructed the clerk to get on the floor.

WILLIAMS further admitted that he had also possessed a Remington rifle and a Savage shotgun at his Watertown residence. In 2012, WILLIAMS was convicted in Jefferson County Court of four counts of Third Degree Burglary.

This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Syracuse, New York, the Watertown Police Department and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ransom P. Reynolds. Further questions may be directed to Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney John Duncan at (315-448-0672).

 

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New York Field Division