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Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District, announced that Lawrence Brown, 46, has been sentenced to 39 years in state prison after committing two armed robberies using a handgun and binding his victims after the fact.
In November 2013, Brown entered an Orange County Rite Aid in New Windsor dressed as a Pepsi deliveryman, asking to speak to the store manager, according to court documents. Once they were alone, Brown shoved a firearm into her side and forced the manager into her office to empty money from the store’s safes.
Brown made off with a total of $5,911 in cash. He proceeded to bind the manager's hands behind her back using a zip-tie, leaving her in the office.
According to Berman, five months later, in April 2014, Lawrence hid in the manager’s office of a Newburgh Shop Rite, waiting for an employee who could open the safe. Over several hours, three store employees who did not have access to the safe entered the office, and each was threatened by Brown with a gun, bound and gagged until a manager entered the room.
Once the manager arrived, Brown pointed the firearm at him and stole an additional $20,140 that was stuffed in a shopping bag. Brown then bound the manager’s hand using an electrical cord and left all four employees in the office.
“Lawrence Brown is a violent felon that terrorized his community through the commission of armed robberies, showing an extreme disregard for his fellow citizens,” ATF New York Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict stated. "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.”
Law enforcement officials finally tracked down Brown, who was arrested and convicted on multiple charges in March last year. In addition to the 39 years in prison, Brown was also ordered to pay $26,051.89 in restitution and will be subjected to three years of supervised release when his sentence is over.
“Lawrence Brown terrorized the employees of a pharmacy and a supermarket when he robbed them at gunpoint,” Berman stated. “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.”
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