Boston Man Convicted In Armed Robbery

BOSTON – A Boston man was convicted today for the armed robbery of a Dorchester Metro PCS retail store in 2011.

Lynch E. Arthur, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper to armed robbery, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearm.

On the morning of Oct. 31, 2011, two men entered the Metro-PCS retail store on Washington Street in the Codman Square section of Dorchester. One man distracted the store clerk while the other walked around the counter and displayed a semi-automatic handgun. The two then forced the clerk into the back storage room and demanded cash after arming themselves with semi-automatic handguns. One man used duct tape to tie up the store clerk. The two men then removed cash from the cash register and fled the scene. A short time later, two men fitting the descriptions of the robbers were observed running down a nearby street, and were stopped and questioned. The officers observed articles of clothing, reportedly worn by the subjects, on the sidewalk from the direction that the men came from. The officers did a sweep and recovered the firearms used by the robbers, duct tape, and cash consistent with the amount stolen. The individuals were brought back to the store and positively identified by the store clerk.

If convicted on these charges, Arthur faces the statutory maximum of life in prison on the charge of carrying a firearm during an armed robbery, 20 years on the armed robbery charge and 10 years on the felon in possession charge, followed by five years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2013.

The co-defendant, Ronald E. Brown, is currently scheduled for trial later this month.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Commissioner Edward Davis of the Boston Police Department; and Eugenio A. Marquez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.