SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby sentenced Yarbrough Latulas today to 216 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release announced U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. On May 22, 2015, after a five day jury trial, a U.S. District Court jury convicted Yarbrough Latulas (31, of Watertown, NY) of the following felony offenses as charged in a three-count superseding indictment: count one, conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery; count two, interfere with interstate commerce by robbery; and count three, using and carrying sawed-off shotgun during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The evidence at trial showed that on July 31, 2013, Yarbrough Latulas and Robert Williams, who previously pled guilty to participating in the armed robbery, entered the Sunoco mini-mart located at 1222 Washington Street, Watertown, New York intending to commit a robbery. After entering the Sunoco, Yarbrough Latulas stole money and tobacco products while Robert Williams pointed a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun at the store clerk. Based upon the defendant’s false trial testimony, the Court found that Latulas committed perjury and applied an obstruction of justice sentencing enhancement.
This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Syracuse, New York, the Watertown Police Department and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ransom P. Reynolds and Nicolas Commandeur. Further questions may be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick at (315-448-0672).
