Jewelry Store Robber Sentenced to 11 Years’ Imprisonment
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 05, 2013 |
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Senior United States District Court Judge James M. Munley sentenced Huby Ramkissoon, age 38, of New York, New York, to 11 years’ imprisonment for the May 14, 2008 robbery of Dunay Jewelers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the sentence imposed by Judge Munley is the result of an investigation into a 2008 scheme to rob Luzerne County jewelry stores. To date, four other individuals have been charged in connection with that scheme in either federal or state court. Devon Nash and Jerry Smith were charged and convicted in federal court in connection with the May 5, 2008 robbery of the Steve Hydock Diamonds in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Jerry Smith and Jason Soto were charged and convicted in connection with the May 14, 2008 robbery of Dunay Jewelers, a jewelry store located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Smith was convicted in federal court, and Soto was convicted in state court. Finally, Kirk Robinson is presently pending trial on charges of conspiracy to use firearms in connection with both robberies.
Huby Ramkissoon was originally charged by a complaint in 2008 by the Wilkes-Barre Police for the robbery. At the time the complaint was filed in 2008, Ramkissoon was a fugitive. On October 16, 2012, a federal grand jury in Scranton returned an Indictment against Ramkissoon charging him with the robbery scheme.
On December 18, 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation located and arrested Ramkissoon in New York City.
On May 30, 2013, Ramkissoon pleaded guilty to two counts associated with the Dunay Jewelers robbery; interference with commerce by robbery; and using and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the robbery.
In addition to the 11-year term of imprisonment, Judge Munley ordered that Ramkissoon be placed on supervised release for a period of three years following the service of his prison sentence. Judge Munley also ordered that Ramkissoon pay restitution in the amount of $89,285 representing the value of money and jewelry stolen during the Dunay Jewelers robbery.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Kingston Police Department, and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Prosecution was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney John C. Gurganus.