Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Clarence Lambert, 23, of Brooklyn, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and use and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

“Throughout our country’s history, the sanctity of the home and the safety and privacy it provides has been guarded and defended,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This defendant, and others, violated this most fundamental of American values, while victimizing those who lived within. Today’s sentence sends a strong message that such conduct will not be tolerated and, if repeated by others in the future, will bring swift and substantial punishment.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that the defendant participated in two armed, home invasion robberies. Lambert and co-defendants Earl McCoy and Matthew Nix believed two victims living at a residence on Hayward Avenue in Rochester were involved in the unlawful possession and distribution of controlled substances, including marijuana and cocaine. As a result, the three conspired to rob the victims in their residence at gunpoint. On September 15, 2014, Lambert and Earl McCoy broke into the residence, brandished firearms, and demanded money and drugs from two victims. Lambert and Earl McCoy restrained the victims at gunpoint, searched the residence, and threatened to kill the victims if they called the police. After finding no money or drugs, the defendant and Earl McCoy fled the residence after taking a cell phone belonging to one of the victims.

On October 7, 2014, Lambert, and co-defendants Earl McCoy, Matthew Nix, Jessica Moscicki, Gary Lambert, and Jecovious Barnes, went to 49 Polo Place in Rochester to rob a third victim of jewelry, watches, and cash. Moscicki backed a vehicle into the driveway and waited while the defendant, Jecovious Barnes, and Gary Lambert, who were armed with weapons, including a firearm, broke into the residence. Inside the residence, Clarence Lambert beat the third victim and his wife with a firearm while demanding money, jewelry, and watches. The defendant and his accomplices left with approximately $20,000 in United States currency, five loose diamonds, and approximately 20 to 40 luxury watches.

Jessica Moscicki then drove the defendant, Gary Lambert and Jecovious Barnes from the robbery to meet Earl McCoy and Matthew Nix at the home of Nix’s mother on Electric Avenue in Rochester. Earl McCoy and Matthew Nix were given the proceeds of the robbery. Matthew Nix then divided some of the proceeds of the robbery, including luxury watches and cash, among the co-conspirators. Matthew Nix maintained possession of the remaining cash, jewelry, and watches stolen from 49 Polo Place.

On October 14, 2014, Clarence Lambert and Jessica Moscicki entered Rochester Pawn Brokers on State Street in Rochester to provide one of the stolen watches to owner Samuel, Cruz, Jr. As Cruz examined the watch in a back office, law enforcement officers arrived to take the defendant into custody. Clarence Lambert fled on foot but was taken into custody while hiding inside a garage on Frankfurt Street in Rochester.

Jessica Moscicki, Jecovious Barnes, and Gary Lambert, have been convicted and are in custody awaiting sentencing.

Earl McCoy was arrested November 8, 2014 in North Charleston, South Carolina. He is charged with Hobbs Act conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, Attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and three counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Charges are pending. 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.

Matthew Nix was arrested on May 18, 2015 in Rochester in connection with a separate heroin trafficking investigation. Nix, who is in custody, is also charged with Hobbs Act conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, narcotics conspiracy and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime in connection with this case. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unlessproven guilty.

The sentencing 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 Delano A. Reid, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Craig Hanesworth, and the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.

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