Armed Robber Sentenced to Prison for Multiple Tidewater Robberies

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for committing a series of armed robberies of convenience stores.

“Violent criminals, especially those carrying firearms, represent a serious danger to our communities,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We remain steadfast in our fight against violent crime, and together with our local law enforcement partners we are zeroing in on violent criminals like Mr. Roscoe, who are carrying firearms and driving crime in Tidewater.”

According to court documents, Lorenzo Roscoe, 30, committed five armed robberies of various convenience stores in Portsmouth, Norfolk and Chesapeake, including 7-Eleven and Dollar General stores. Roscoe would enter the stores wearing a disguise and brandishing a firearm while demanding money and cartons of Newport cigarettes. After Roscoe’s vehicle was identified on surveillance video, law enforcement setup surveillance on Roscoe’s vehicle. They followed Roscoe as he drove to another Dollar General store wearing the same clothing he wore for the other robberies. As Roscoe was about to enter the store the police apprehended him. In a bag that he carried with him to all the robberies, the police found a firearm.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney William D. Muhr prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by a multi-agency team including the Portsmouth Police, Chesapeake Police and the FBI’s Tidewater Violent Crime Task Force.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-57.