RICHMOND, Va. - Lamar Keith Garvin, 49 years old, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 30 years and 1 day in prison for his role in a string of armed jewelry store robberies.
Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Carl J. Vasilko, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division, made the announcement after the sentence was imposed by United States District Judge John A. Gibney.
A federal grand jury indicted Garvin on August, 20, 2013, on charges of Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Felony Crime of Violence arising out of the Jan. 12, 2013, attempted robbery of the Zales Jewelry Store at Spotsylvania Towne Center. He was arrested on November 4, 2013 and held without bond pending trial. On Jan. 21, 2014, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, three additional counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery and a second charge of Using, Carrying and Brandishing a Firearm During and In Relation to a Felony Crime of Violence.
On May 12, 2014, after opening statements on day-one of his jury trial, Garvin pled guilty to all of the charges in the superseding indictment.
In a proffer of facts made in support of the plea, Garvin admitted that he had committed the crimes charged in the superseding indictment. Specifically, Garvin admitted that between September 2012 and March 25, 2013, he and his coconspirators agreed to rob a number of jewelry stores in the Baltimore, Maryland and Spotsylvania and Richmond, Virginia areas. Garvin admitted that on Sept. 12, 2012, he and Michael Richardson robbed the Zales Jewelry Store in Baltimore County, Maryland and stole approximately $115,499 worth of jewelry. Garvin further admitted that on Nov. 13, 2012, he, Richardson and another coconspirator robbed at gun point the Kay Jewelers in Short Pump Mall, in Henrico County, and stole approximately $341,718 worth of jewelry. Garvin further admitted that on Jan. 12, 2013, he, Richardson and Veronica Smith attempted to rob the Zales at the Spotsylvania Towne Center, but their attempt was foiled by a clerk who apprehended Michael Richardson. Richardson was armed with a firearm during that robbery attempt. Garvin further admitted that on Feb. 18, 2013, he and two other coconspirators robbed the Littman Jewelers in Short Pump Mall, Henrico, County, at gun point and stole $125,000 worth of jewelry. Garvin admitted also that on March 25, 2013, he and two coconspirators robbed the Fink’s Jewelers located at Stony Point, in Richmond, Virginia at gunpoint, and stole approximately $400,000 worth of jewelry.
Two of Garvin’s coconspirators, Michael Richardson, 49, of Washington, D.C., and Veronica Smith, 54, of Washington, D.C. were sentenced earlier this year for their roles in the robberies. Richardson was sentenced to 15 years for his role in three robberies. Smith, who was only involved in one attempted robbery, was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the ATF, Henrico County Police Department, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Richmond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Olivia L. Norman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:13-cr-141.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
