Home Invasion Robber Sentenced to More Than 58 Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA—Clarence Powell, 23, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 697 months in prison for the home invasion robberies of two Asian business owners and their families in December 2008. Powell was convicted at trial, February 9, 2011, of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. District Court Judge J. Curtis Joyner presided. Powell and his co-defendants, Michael Lassiter and Troy Hill, followed a Philadelphia shop owner to her home in Broomall, Pennsylvania on December 1, 2008. The armed defendants tied up the shop owner and her husband, assaulted them, and stole money and other property. Prior to December 18, 2008, the defendants followed the owner of the Dollar Plus Discount store, located in Philadelphia, to his home in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. They returned on December 18, 2011 and robbed several family members. Lassiter and Powell, along with Troy Hill, were armed with handguns and a sawed-off shotgun when they forced their way into the business owner's home, restrained several members of the business owner's family, stole money and other property, and escaped in a car driven by Alexis Byrd-Arroyo.

Powell is also awaiting trial for an armed carjacking. Lassiter, Hill, and Byrd-Arroyo pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced. Lassiter was sentenced to 30 years in prison; Hill to 22 years in prison; Byrd -Arroyo to four years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Marple Township Police Department, and the Upper Darby Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Arlene Fisk and Thomas Zaleski.