U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
District of Vermont

HINESBURG MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ROBBERY AND CONSPIRACY

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated today that a Hinesburg resident, Gerald LaFlam, age 20, appeared today in the United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont and pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a conspiracy to affect commerce by means of robbery, and one count of robbery of the Jerusalem Country Store in Starksboro, Vermont on February 3, 2007.

During the period from January 22, 2007 to February 3, 2007, there was a series of armed robberies of area convenience stores committed by an individual who concealed his identity by wearing a hooded sweatshirt backwards. The last of these robberies occurred on February 3, 2007 when the Jerusalem Country Store in Starksboro, Vermont was robbed. A joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police, and several local police departments led to the filing of a federal Criminal Complaint which named Gerald LaFlam as the perpetrator of the Starksboro robbery. It also charged Ashley Penniman, age 23, with aiding LaFlam in the robbery by driving the motor vehicle. On April 12, 2007, LaFlam and Penniman were indicted by the federal grand jury and charged with engaging in a conspiracy to obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by means of the robbery of the Jerusalem Country Store and with the actual robbery of that store.

Today in federal court, LaFlam appeared before Chief United States District Judge William K. Sessions III and pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information which charged that LaFlam engaged in a broader conspiracy from January 22, 2007 to February 5, 2007 to obstruct,delay or affect commerce by means of robbery. During this 13 day period there were five robberies of convenience stores in Chittenden and Addision Counties. LaFlam also pleaded guilty to a charge that he committed the robbery of the Jerusalem Country Store on February 3, 2007. LaFlam faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The actual sentence will be determined in accordance with the federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The indictment against LaFlam's co-defendant, Ashley Penniman, remains pending. Judge Sessions scheduled Laflam's sentencing for October 15, 2007.

United States Attorney Thomas D. Anderson commended the investigative and cooperative effort of several law enforcement agencies involved in this case, including the Vermont State Police, the Colchester Police Department, the Hinesburg Community Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Following this afternoons change of plea, LaFlam was returned to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. LaFlam was represented by Burlington attorney Richard Bothfeld. Assistant United States Attorney John M. Conroy is the prosecutor in the case.