NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Newport News man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Craig Alexander Brodie, 29, from October 2016 to September 2017, conspired and carried out a plan to rob prostitutes in Newport News and Williamsburg. During the course of the conspiracy, Brodie identified potential victims over the internet, then set up meetings in person. His co-defendant, Kimberly Lannytte Gardner, acted as a driver for him. Once he was at the victims' rooms, he brandished a firearm and robbed the victims. In multiple cases, he forced the women at gunpoint to strip naked and then fondled or attempted to fondle the victim's breasts. During the robberies, Brodie said to his victims, “you don't understand, you're about to die," and “next time it will be worse," and “the only reason I'm not killing you is because you have kids." Brodie also bragged about being in the Army and said he was “trained for this sort of thing." As an additional intimidation tactic, Brodie took pictures of multiple women's drivers’ licenses during the robberies.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan M. Cowles prosecuted the case.
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. 4:17-cr-41.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
