New Haven Man Sentenced to Prison for Committing Multiple Armed Robberies in 2016

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VINSON SINGLETON, JR., 26, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing several armed robberies in March 2016.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation into a series of armed and attempted armed robberies of commercial establishments in Ansonia, North Haven and New Haven in March 2016.  The investigation revealed that, in the evening of March 22, 2016, an individual entered the Shell gas station at 696 Main Street in Ansonia, attempted to rob the store and stabbed a store employee in his back.  After the victim was stabbed, the victim saw a metal blade on the ground and the assailant holding a black handle in his hand.  The assailant then ran from the store.  The victim suffered a small puncture wound in his lower back.

Investigators collected the knife handle and a hat and sweatshirt that the assailant discarded as he ran from the store.  DNA collected from these items matched DNA that was collected from Singleton after investigators had identified Singleton as a suspect.

The investigation revealed that Singleton also robbed or attempted to rob a Dunkin Donuts in New Haven on March 8, 2016; a Valero in North Haven on March 9, 2016; a Papa John’s in New Haven on March 17, 2016; a Shell in New Haven on March 17, 2016, and a 7-11 in New Haven on March 21, 2016.

On November 7, 2019, Singleton pleaded guilty to one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery.  At the time of his guilty plea, Singleton was serving a state sentence for possessing a sawed-off shotgun and an attempted robbery in late 2016.

Singleton has been detained in federal custody since January 24, 2020.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crime Task Force and the Ansonia, New Haven and North Haven Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.