Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM DAVIS, 27, of Allentown, Pa., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 176 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in a violent kidnapping and jewelry store robbery in April 2013.

According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 11, 2013, DAVIS and three other men, all of whom were wearing masks and gloves and two of whom were armed with handguns, broke into an apartment on Gravel Street in Meriden, Conn., bound four victims with duct tape and covered their heads with pillowcases, towels and jackets. DAVIS and others then forced two of the victims into a victim’s vehicle and drove to Lenox Jewelers in Fairfield, Conn., where the two victims worked. At the store, the perpetrators stole jewelry, watches and loose diamonds with a total replacement value of more than $3 million. They then fled in the victim’s car, leaving the two victims bound inside the store.

DAVIS was arrested at his Allentown residence on May 22, 2013. On that date, a search of his residence revealed approximately $65,000 in cash, seven expensive watches, several pieces of diamond encrusted jewelry and a large quantity of crack cocaine.

DAVIS was ordered to pay restitution of more than $3.1 million.

DAVIS has been detained since his arrest. On December 15, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Four other men have been charged with participating in this kidnapping and robbery. Two have pleaded guilty and await sentencing, and two are awaiting trial.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fairfield Police Department and Meriden Police Department. U.S. Attorney Daly also acknowledged the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI in New York and Pennsylvania; the York, Allentown and Bethlehem Police Departments in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton.