A spree of armed robberies in the Fort Worth area has resulted in a 60-year federal prison sentence for the convicted felon involved.
Charles Brownlee, 37, was charged with one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act interference with commerce by robbery, five counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
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According to the US Attorney’s Office, US District Judge Reed C. O’Connor sentenced him and ordered him to pay up to $21,000 in restitution.
Between May 9 and May 21, 2024, Brownlee robbed five Cash Stores at gunpoint, covering his face with a surgical mask and changing his clothes for each crime.
According to the Justice Department, Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson emphasized the panic these robberies caused among businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and praised law enforcement’s efforts to terminate this spate of violent crimes.
Larson emphasized the sentence’s dual purpose of vengeance and deterrence.
The robberies were investigated together by a number of law enforcement organizations, including the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, the Fort Worth Resident Agency, and many local police departments. This partnership was critical in both stopping the robberies and securing a thorough prosecution, which ultimately led to Brownlee’s guilt and subsequent punishment. R. Joseph Rothrock, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge, emphasized collaborative efficiency, stating, via the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement to surge resources and fight violent crime in our communities across North Texas.”
