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The United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of Vermont
TWO INDICTED IN BACKWARDS BANDIT ROBBERY
April 12, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
The
Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated
today that Gerald LaFlam, 19, and Ashley Penniman, 22, have been indicted
by the federal grand jury in Burlington with engaging in a conspiracy
to obstruct commerce by means of the robbery, and interference and obstruction
of interstate commerce. Both charges stem from the February 3, 2007
robbery of the of the Jerusalem Country Store in Starksboro, Vermont.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined in accordance with the federal Sentencing Guidelines in the event of a conviction. United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson stated that LaFlam and Penniman are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A criminal complaint had been filed in federal court previously. The affidavit of an FBI agent in support of the criminal complaint revealed that the perpetrator of the robbery wore a hooded sweatshirt backwards during the robbery.
United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson commended the Vermont State Police and the Burlington resident agency of the FBI for their cooperative investigation in this robbery. It is anticipated that LaFlam and Penniman will be arraigned on the indictment on May 1, 2007 and May 2, 2007, respectively. Both are currently in the custody of the State of Vermont on unrelated state charges.
Assistant United States Attorney John M. Conroy is the prosecutor.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined in accordance with the federal Sentencing Guidelines in the event of a conviction. United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson stated that LaFlam and Penniman are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A criminal complaint had been filed in federal court previously. The affidavit of an FBI agent in support of the criminal complaint revealed that the perpetrator of the robbery wore a hooded sweatshirt backwards during the robbery.
United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson commended the Vermont State Police and the Burlington resident agency of the FBI for their cooperative investigation in this robbery. It is anticipated that LaFlam and Penniman will be arraigned on the indictment on May 1, 2007 and May 2, 2007, respectively. Both are currently in the custody of the State of Vermont on unrelated state charges.
Assistant United States Attorney John M. Conroy is the prosecutor.
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