DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, October 15, 2014
William J. Hochul, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Rochester Man Charged in Armed Robbery of Jeweler

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Clarence Lambert, 22, was charged by criminal complaint with obstructing commerce by robbery, and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The robbery charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence charge carries a minimum sentence of seven years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Robert A. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that Lambert is charged with participating in the home invasion robbery of a jeweler in the Town of Greece on October 7, 2014. According to the complaint, during the robbery, the jeweler and his wife were pistol whipped and locked in a closet. The perpetrators are accused of stealing in excess of $200,000 in cash, diamonds, and luxury watches. On October 14, 2014, the defendant was observed trying to pawn one of the stolen watches at a local pawn broker in Rochester. Police attempted to stop Lambert who fled and led officers on a foot chase. The defendant was caught hiding in a box in a garage on Frankfurt Street, and was later identified by the jeweler as one of the three armed robbers.

The defendant made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson. He is being detained and is due back in court on Tuesday October 21, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Phelan, Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of James S. Higgins, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Scott Crosier, and the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

New York Field Division