Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ashan M. Benedict, the New York Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), announced today that LAWRENCE BROWN was sentenced to 39 years in prison for committing two armed robberies in Orange County, New York.  BROWN was convicted on March 9, 2017, after a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Nelson Stephen Román, who imposed today’s sentence.

 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Lawrence Brown terrorized the employees of a pharmacy and a supermarket when he robbed them at gunpoint.  Not only did Brown point his gun at five different people, making them fear for their lives, he then tied them up before fleeing with thousands of dollars in cash.  Today’s lengthy prison sentence sends a strong message that violent crimes and firearms offenses like these will not be tolerated.”

 

ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict stated:  “Lawrence Brown is a violent felon that terrorized his community through the commission of armed robberies, showing an extreme disregard for his fellow citizens.  One of ATF’s Top Most Wanted Fugitives, he zip-tied his victims’ hands, brandished firearms, and held some of his victims as hostages while committing his robberies. Thanks to the efforts of local and federal law enforcement, Brown will no longer be in a position to harm his community.  I would like to extend my gratitude to the United States Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting the case. I would also like to thank the Special Agents of ATF, as well as the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigative efforts that helped bring Brown to justice.”

 

According to the Indictment filed against BROWN, other court documents publicly filed in this case, and statements made in court proceedings, including today’s sentencing:

 

In late 2013 and early 2014, the defendant committed two terrifying robberies.  In November 2013, the defendant entered a Rite Aid pharmacy in New Windsor, New York, dressed in a Pepsi deliveryman uniform, and asked to speak to the store’s manager.  He then shoved a firearm into her side and forced the store manager into the manager’s office to empty money from the store’s safes, totaling $5,911, into a shopping bag.  He then bound the store manager’s hands behind her back using a zip-tie and left her in the office.

 

Five months later, in April 2014, the defendant hid in the manager’s office of a Shop Rite supermarket in Newburgh, New York, where he lay in wait for an employee who could open that store’s safes.  Over the next few hours, three store employees who did not have the combination to the safes separately entered the office, and the defendant brandished a firearm at each of them.  When it became clear that each of these first three employees could not open the safes, Brown bound their hands behind their backs using zip-ties and continued to await a manager.  When a manager eventually arrived, Brown pointed the firearm at the manager and ordered him to empty money totaling $20,140 into a shopping bag.  The defendant then bound the manager’s hands using an electrical cord and left all four employees tied up in the office. 

 

 

In addition to the prison term, BROWN, 46, was sentenced to restitution in the amount of $26,051.89 and three years of supervised release.

 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF, the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Town of New Windsor Police Department.

 

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Anden Chow and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution.