NEWARK, N.J. – A South Orange, New Jersey, man was sentenced
today to 135 months in prison for his participation in the September 2015 armed
robbery of a club in Passaic, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito
announced.
Keontrae Lawrence, a/k/a “Taz,” 29, previously pleaded
guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an indictment charging
him with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of
brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence
today in Newark federal court.
According to the indictment and other documents filed in
this case:
On Sept. 6, 2015, Lawrence and others agreed to rob a club
in Passaic at gunpoint. During his plea
hearing, Lawrence admitted that he knowingly and willfully participated in the
robbery and that he and another conspirator brandished a firearm and threatened
to use violence against a club employee. He also admitted that he and the other
conspirator took $26,084 in cash from the club before fleeing in a getaway car.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced
Lawrence to five years of supervised release.
Lawrence was originally charged with Jimmy Cooper, a/k/a
“Flip,” 32, of Irvington, New Jersey, and Shaheed Blamahsah, a/k/a “Aboo,” 30,
of East Orange, New Jersey, in November 2016. Cooper and Lawrence were later
indicted by a federal grand jury on March 24, 2017, for their roles in the
robbery.
Blamahsah pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery and was
sentenced Oct. 6, 2017, to 150 months in prison. The charges against Cooper are
still pending, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, and
members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of
Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, with the investigation leading to today’s
sentencing. He also thanked the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, the Passaic
Police Department, and the Newark Police Division for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Elaine K. Lou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: John A. Azzarello Esq., Morristown, New
Jersey
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