November 24, 2015

Four New York Men Each Sentenced to More Than Eight Years In Prison for Armed Robberies of New York and New Jersey Stores

TRENTON, NJ—Four New York men were sentenced to prison for participating in the armed robberies of New York and New Jersey electronics stores, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Carl Williams, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, and Leonard Arrington, 29, of Roslyn Heights, New York, were sentenced today to 168 months and 102 months in prison, respectively. Terrell McQueen, 31, and Kajuan Crawley, 28, both of Brooklyn, were sentenced yesterday to 168 and 150 months in prison, respectively. U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson imposed all four sentences in Trenton federal court.

Carl Williams previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Arrington pleaded guilty before Judge Pisano to an information containing the same charges. McQueen and Crawley pleaded guilty before Judge Joel Pisano to separate superseding informations charging them each with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From May 30, 2012, through Jan. 16, 2013, Carl Williams, Arrington, McQueen, Crawley and others conspired to commit a series of gunpoint electronic store robberies in New Jersey and New York. McQueen provided the firearms used in the New Jersey robberies, coordinated the resale of the stolen merchandise and distributed the profits from the robberies to the other perpetrators. During each robbery, conspirators would assign “look-outs” to remain outside while the rest of the group, armed with a gun, entered the store, locked the front doors, and tied-up employees and customers with zip ties.

Following the June 21, 2012, armed robbery of a Radio Shack in Rockville Center, New York, several conspirators, including Crawley, were apprehended by officers with the Nassau County Police Department, but Carl Williams, Arrington and others managed to escape. Afterwards, Carl Williams and Arrington robbed electronics stores in New Jersey.

On Sept. 20, 2012, Arrington, brandishing a firearm, walked into a T-Mobile store in Linden, New Jersey, with Carl Williams. Crawley, out on bail after his arrest following the June 21, 2012 robbery, served as a look-out. Arrington and Williams tied up the employees in the back of the store, stole approximately 50 to 60 cell phones and fled in a Land Rover. McQueen, Eric Williams, 34, of Brooklyn, and others then delivered the stolen phones to a cell phone store in Brooklyn.

On Oct. 2, 2012, Arrington, brandishing a firearm, entered a T-Mobile store in Woodbridge, New Jersey, with another man. After locking the front door, the men tied up the employees in the back of the store and stole approximately 40 cell phones. One of the robbers then called the getaway driver, who drove them away in a Land Rover. Afterwards, McQueen, Eric Williams and others delivered the stolen phones to the same Brooklyn store.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Thompson sentenced Arrington to serve five years of supervised release. Carl Williams, McQueen and Crawley were each sentenced to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation. He also thanked the Linden 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.

Defense counsel:

  • Williams: Mark Berman Esq., River Edge, New Jersey
  • Arrington: Dennis Cleary Esq., Newark, New Jersey
  • McQueen: Anthony J. Pope Esq., Newark
  • Crawley: Maria Noto Esq., Matawan, New Jersey