Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty To Helping Her Boyfriend Escape After A Robbery

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jessica Henton, 30, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to Hobbs Act Robbery, before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that on February 18, 2017, the defendant was driving her car in the area of South Avenue in Rochester, with her boyfriend, Fred Swan, in the passenger seat. Swan got out of Henton’s car and walked to Alice’s Market, located at 1477 South Avenue. Swan entered the store and pointed a gun at the store clerk and demanded money from the register. The clerk gave Swan approximately $50. Swan then called the defendant and instructed her to move her car to another location. Swan ran to the car, got in, and Henton drove him away. Swan told the defendant that he had just robbed Alice’s Market, and the defendant proceeded to drive Swan away from the scene.

Fred Swan was previously convicted of Hobbs Act Robbery and sentenced on November to serve 192 months in prison.  

Today’s plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Simmons, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 1, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. before Chief Judge Geraci.