DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

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

For Immediate Release

Thursday, November 12, 2015
Richard S. Hartunian
, United States Attorney
Contact: AUSA Richard Southwick

Watertown Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison for Armed Robbery

Sawed-off Shotgun Used During Convenience Store Robbery

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Robert A. Williams, 24, of Watertown, NY, was sentenced yesterday to serve 130 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release in connection with the armed robbery of a convenience store in Watertown, announced U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. On July 8, 2014 Williams pled guilty in U.S. District Court to using and carrying a sawed-off shotgun during and in relation to a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

In July 2013, Robert Williams and Robert Mono stole four shotguns, a rifle, and ammunition from a residence in Lewis County. Williams and Mono used a hacksaw to cut down the barrels and stocks of the four shotguns. On July 31, 2013, Williams and Yarbrough Latulas entered a Sunoco located at 1222 Washington Street, Watertown, New York where WILLIAMS pointed one of the stolen sawed-off 12 gauge shotguns at the store clerk and stated "give me your money." The clerk then opened the cash register and handed over $513.00 in cash. Yarbrough Latulas stole $395.00 in tobacco products from behind the counter and instructed the clerk to get on the floor.

Yarbrough Latulas was convicted after trial in U.S. District Court for interference with interstate commerce by robbery, and using and carrying a sawed-off shotgun during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced on November 5, 2015 to eighteen years in prison. Robert Mono pled guilty in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and was sentenced on October 14, 2015 to nine years in prison.

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 Attorneys Ransom P. Reynolds and Nicolas Commandeur.

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New York Field Division