NEWARK, NJ—A Newark man who committed 17 armed robberies in three counties within a six-month period was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 19 years in prison, officials said.
Bobby Dawson, 31, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls to one count of committing an armed carjacking, one count of conspiring to commit Hobbs Act robberies and one count of discharging a firearm during the commission of one of those robberies.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Dawson conspired with others to rob commercial establishments as follows:
- Pao Da Terra Newark December 29, 2012
- Lukoil Newark January 20, 2013
- Newark Community Pharmacy Newark January 24, 2013
- Linden Stationary Linden February 1, 2013
- Delta Gas Station Newark February 1, 2013
- Shoppers Express Belleville February 2, 2013
- Krauszers Kearny February 10, 2013
- Krauszers Bloomfield February 13, 2013
- Pat’s Deli Newark February 19, 2013
- Smashburger Paramus March 16, 2013
- Krauszers Bloomfield March 29, 2013
- MS&K Confectionery Maplewood April 1, 2013
- Belleville News and Food Belleville April 17, 2013
- South Wood Discount Liquor Linden April 17, 2013
- Krauszers West Orange April 24, 2013
- Newark Community Pharmacy Newark May 1, 2013
- Subway Restaurant Verona May 20, 2013
Dawson and his conspirators robbed each of these establishments at gunpoint, stealing cash, cigarettes and other items.
In 15 of the 17 robberies, officials said Dawson and his conspirators used zip-ties or duct tape to restrain their victims, authorities said.
In the MS&K robbery on April 1, 2013, Dawson threatened the clerk of the store with a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. When the clerk resisted, Dawson fired his gun at the clerk, ordered the clerk to lie down and then stole $9,000 from the cash register.
In the robbery of Krauszers in West Orange on April 24, 2013, Dawson and a conspirator tied up three individuals in the store with zip-ties before stealing approximately $600 and several cartons of cigarettes.
Dawson injured a store employee by hitting the victim in the head with his firearm, officials said.
On Jan. 1, 2013, officials said Dawson and others agreed to steal a Mitsubishi Gallant parked on Underwood Street in Newark. Before driving away with the car, Dawson and his conspirators brandished multiple firearms to subdue the driver, with one conspirator using his firearm to strike the driver in the head.
Judge Walls ordered Dawson to pay $72,518 in restitution, according to the Justice Department.