The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Lee Jay Manning, 28, of Barre, Vermont, was charged in a three-count indictment with robbing a Cumberland Farms convenience store in Barre on Feb. 12, 2014, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, possessing a firearm in furtherance of that robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and possessing that firearm as a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
According to court records, Manning robbed the Cumberland Farms convenience store in Barre on the evening of Feb. 12, 2014 with a semi-automatic handgun. He was apprehended by law enforcement, in possession of the handgun, shortly after the robbery. In 2004, Manning was convicted in Vermont of burglary, which is a felony offense. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
Following his arrest on Feb. 12, 2014, Manning appeared in federal court on Feb. 13, 2014 to answer to a preliminary complaint. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered Manning detained at that time. The federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment on Feb. 20, 2014. The court has yet to schedule Manning’s arraignment.
If convicted of the robbery charge, Manning faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A conviction for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison. If convicted of carrying the firearm in furtherance of the robbery, Manning faces a maximum of life imprisonment and mandatory minimum term of five years in prison. Federal law requires that Manning serve such a sentence consecutively to any other sentence he receives.
The actual sentence in the event of conviction would be determined by the court with reference to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines. United States Attorney Tristram J. Coffin stated that the indictment is an accusation only and that Manning is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney Coffin commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Barre City Police Department, the Barre Town Police Department, the Berlin Police Department, and the Vermont State Police for their investigation into this matter.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Doherty, Jr. Manning is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
