Brinks Burglar Sentenced to 55 Months in Prison

COLUMBUS—Joseph M. Morgan, 29, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 55 months in prison for his involvement in the January 18, 2009 burglary of a Brinks facility in Columbus on January 18, 2009. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,270,456.80.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Columbus Police Chief Walter Distelzweig announced the sentenced imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge George C. Smith.

Morgan pleaded guilty on April 7, 2011 to one count of conspiracy to transport merchandise and money in interstate commerce and one count of transporting merchandise and money in interstate commerce.

According to statements read during his plea hearing, Morgan and two other men used rental vehicles to travel from the Boston, Massachusetts metropolitan area to Columbus, Ohio. Once they arrived in Columbus and established that all Brinks employees had gone home for the evening, they were able to gain entry into the facility by using a torch to cut holes into the roof of the facility. Once inside, they gained limited entrance into the vault using a high-intensity torch. Sparks from the torch ignited money and materials inside the vault, which severely limited the amount of money they were able to obtain.

Robert Doucette, 42 of Lynn, Massachusetts pleaded guilty on April 7, 2011 to the same charges. He is scheduled for sentencing on November 9. Charges are still pending against a third individual charged in connection with the robbery, Sean Murphy, aka Brian Heatherman, age 47. He is in state custody on unrelated charges in Massachusetts. His federal trial in Columbus is scheduled for November 17.

Stewart commended the investigation by FBI agents in Columbus, assisted by FBI agents in Boston, and Columbus Police detectives, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Salvador A. Dominguez, who is prosecuting the case.