Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Robbery And Firearms Charges In Connection With Armed Robbery Of Econo Lodge In Scranton

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Virginia man pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton, to federal robbery and firearms charges filed in connection with the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge located on Kane Street in Scranton, which occurred on February 13, 2016.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Kwa’shon Roane, age 24, of Gloucester, Virginia, admitted to the charges of interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Roane, along with Rodney Whiting, age 23, of Scranton, Tracy Whiting, age 24, of Newport News, Virginia, and Kelvin Robinson, age 24, also of Newport News, Virginia, were indicted by a grand jury in March 2016 for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Scranton Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor Borough and Moosic Borough Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

Rodney Whiting, Tracy Whiting and Kelvin Robinson previously pleaded guilty to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and are awaiting sentencing.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Roane faces a mandatory penalty of at least seven years in prison for the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which must be served in addition to the sentence he receives for the charge of interference with commerce by robbery.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses is up to life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine.  According to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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