New Castle Man Pleads Guilty to Eight Armed Robberies in Delaware and Connecticut

Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Ronald BROCKENBAUGH, age 51 of New Castle, Delaware, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a 10-count criminal information charging him with eight counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce (18 U.S.C. § 1951), one count of brandishing a firearm during a commission of a violent crime (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)); and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)). Pursuant to the plea agreement, the parties and the court agreed that defendant will receive a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment when sentenced on February 13, 2012.

According to court documents and facts disclosed at the hearing, BROCKENBAUGH robbed six commercial establishments in Delaware, and two in Connecticut, over a four-month period from December 2010 to March 2011. Those establishments were, in chronological order, the following:

Following BROCKENBAUGH’s final robbery in Connecticut, an eyewitness was able to observe the license plate of his vehicle. The New Castle County Police and Greenwich (Connecticut) Police Departments linked the vehicle to BROCKENBAUGH and executed a search of his residence. During the search, officers found a firearm, ammunition, and several distinctive items used by BROCKENBAUGH during the robberies. BROCKENBAUGH later confessed that the firearm and ammunition belonged to him. Ultimately, the New Castle County Police, Delaware State Police, Newark Police and Greenwich Police Departments were able to link BROCKENBAUGH to the robberies through video surveillance and witness identifications.

United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III praised the cooperation between the involved police departments, stating, “I applaud the cooperation and investigative efforts of the New Castle County Police, Delaware State Police, Newark Police and Greenwich Police Departments to solve these numerous violent robberies that occurred in multiple locations over a four-month period. The prosecution of robbery cases such as those committed by Mr. Brockenbaugh is and will be a priority for our office.”

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Kravetz. For further information, contact Press Information Officer Kimberlynn Reeves at (302) 573-6277, ext. 16287.