Trio Charged in Connection with Armed Robbery Plot against Vero Beach Licensed Firearms Dealer
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, announce yesterday’s arrest of Anthony Paul Sorenson, 36, of Stuart, Samtanna Roderick Burgess, 38, of Port St. Lucie, and Anthony Mark Rogers, 33, of Ft. Pierce. They are scheduled to make their initial appearances in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch Jr. in Ft. Pierce Florida.
More specifically, the complaint charges the defendants with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence (robbery), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). If convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence (robbery), the defendants each face a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, the defendants face a consecutive five year term of imprisonment.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, on October 17, 2011, the defendants forced their way into the Vero Beach residence of a licensed firearms dealer. Once inside, the armed robbers demanded the location of the safe and searched the house for guns and ammunition. Unbeknownst to the robbers, the Indian River Sheriff’s Office (IRSO) had been notified and arrived at the scene, causing the robbers to flee out of the back of the house. The robbers were arrested and the police recovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Inside the residence, detectives found a discarded pillow case filled with numerous rounds of ammunition. The detectives also located a getaway car parked in the garage with the engine running, containing Sorenson’s identification and a second loaded semiautomatic pistol.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.
A complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
