Four Brooklyn Men Indicted for Armed Robberies of Electronics Stores in New Jersey and New York

NEWARK—A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today against four Brooklyn, New York men in connection with a spree of eight armed robberies of electronic stores in New Jersey and New York, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Today’s indictment adds multiple defendants and counts to the original indictment returned on May 22, 2013. Carl Williams, 30; Eric Williams, 33, (no relation); Kajuan Crawley, 26; and Unique Randolph, 27, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in connection with eight armed robberies of electronic stores that took place between May 30, 2012, and January 16, 2013, including robberies in Linden, Paramus, and Woodbridge, New Jersey.

In addition, Carl Williams and Eric Williams, both arrested on February 14, 2013, are each charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Randolph, arrested July 24, 2013, and Crawley, arrested October 2, 2013, are also each charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. All defendants have been detained since their arrest.

All defendants are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court for an arraignment at a date yet to be determined.

According to the indictment and other documents filed in this case, Crawley, Randolph, Carl Williams, and Eric Williams conspired to commit eight armed robberies of electronic stores as follows:

The men used a similar routine for each of the robberies. One or two men would serve as lookouts while two or more men would enter the store, brandish a firearm, and tie-up the store employees at gunpoint. After tying up the employees, the men would steal cell phones and other electronic equipment and then flee in getaway cars.

The charges of conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery are punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The first count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years and a maximum of life in prison. Any additional count carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation leading to the arrest and charges. He also thanked the Linden, Paramus, and Woodbridge Police Departments in New Jersey, as well as the New York City and Nassau County Police Departments and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in New York for their work in this case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.

The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.