Former Walgreens manager Michael Robinson, 35, has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison for orchestrating a series of armed robberies at a Chinatown Walgreens store. In coordination with his accomplices, Robinson used his position and insider knowledge to facilitate the theft of nearly $29,000 from the store he was tasked with managing, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On March 11, Robinson pled guilty to charges including conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb handed down the 147-month sentence and ordered Robinson to serve five years of supervised release, and, pay $7,245.75 in restitution. Acting FBI Director Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office was present for the announcement, signaling the gravity of the federal crime, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The elaborate heists began in July 2023, when Robinson or another former manager, London Teeter, would be on duty. They would surveil the store's security and cash flow details, relaying this sensitive information to their co-defendants. On seven occasions, the crew executed their plan, robbing the store nearly once a month, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Robinson's nephew, Gianni Robinson, and another individual, Kamanye Williams, were implicated in the crimes, with each playing a role in the robberies. Dressed to disguise his identity, Williams would brandish a firearm at employees and security officers during the heists, using access codes provided by the insider managers to clean out the business proceeds from the manager's office. In one brazen move, "Williams escalated to stealing the firearms from the Special Police Officers," as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Additional sentences are pending for the co-defendants, Williams, Gianni Robinson, and Teeter. As the criminal proceedings continue, this case serves as a stark reminder of the potential vulnerabilities businesses face from threats within their own ranks. The prosecution was carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin, with help from several colleagues, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
