Cold Case Solved, Tulsa Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Planned Violent Robbery That Claimed a Young Life

TULSA, Okla. – A U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Jamalo Bruner Jr. to 50 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence that resulted in the death of Benjamin Montgomery. Bruner previously pleaded guilty to the federal offense.

According to court records, on October 10, 2019, Bruner and another armed participant planned to rob Aaron Pritchard of marijuana. Armed with 9mm pistols, the pair waited for Pritchard at the Bellevue Apartments in Tulsa before confronting him at gunpoint. During the robbery, Pritchard was struck in the head with a pistol and ordered to take the assailants to an apartment.

When Pritchard was unable to locate a key to the intended apartment, he went to a neighboring apartment occupied by Benjamin Montgomery. Bruner and his accomplice forced their way inside while continuing to hold Pritchard at gunpoint. As they entered the apartment, a shot was fired through the front door and into the ceiling.

Montgomery was inside the apartment with five friends when the armed intruders entered. In an effort to protect those in the apartment, Montgomery confronted the gunmen. During the ensuing struggle, Montgomery was shot in the chest and killed. Bruner and his accomplice fled the scene. Although investigators were unable to determine which participant fired the fatal shot, the evidence established Bruner's active role in the armed robbery and firearm offense that resulted in Montgomery's death.

The homicide remained unsolved for several years until investigators with the FBI and the Tulsa Police Department Homicide Unit developed new leads and reopened the case. DNA testing conducted during the investigation produced a profile consistent with Bruner's DNA, helping investigators connect him to the crime.

At sentencing, Montgomery's family members and friends spoke about the lasting impact of his death and the years of grief they have endured. Family members said they were grateful for the work of law enforcement and prosecutors and believed justice had been served.

Montgomery had celebrated his 22nd birthday just three days before his death. Family members described him as a loyal son, devoted brother, trusted friend, athlete, animal lover, and a young man known for protecting others and helping those in need. His mother recalled that he regularly showed compassion to strangers, cared deeply for animals, and remained exceptionally close to his family. Loved ones remembered him as someone who instinctively stood up for others and whose final actions reflected the courage and selflessness that defined his life.

"Jamalo Bruner helped orchestrate a violent armed robbery and set in motion the chain of events that took Benjamin Montgomery's life," said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar. “The 50-year federal sentence is a just and significant punishment for a senseless crime that devastated a family and shocked our community. Benjamin was only 22 years old. His loved ones described a young man known for his compassion and willingness to protect others. On the night he was killed, he did exactly that, confronting armed intruders in an effort to protect his friends. While no sentence can restore Benjamin’s stolen future or erase the pain his family has carried for years, today's outcome delivers meaningful justice."

“The defendant’s actions resulted in the tragic death of a young man and forever changed the lives of his family and loved ones. This sentence reflects the serious consequences of those actions,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “The FBI remains committed to pursuing justice on behalf of all victims of violence, and the families who bear the impact of these senseless crimes.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

The FBI and the Tulsa Police Department Homicide Unit investigated the case. The United States Attorney's Office would like to recognize the efforts of Tulsa Police Department Detective Lacy Lansdown who led the investigation that ultimately solved the cold case, and recognize the valuable assistance provided by Tulsa Police Department Homicide Unit Case Support Specialist Margot Heyne-Bell.

Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on the most pressing violent crime issues facing our communities. This nationwide initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to strategically address and reduce violent crime, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations that serve communities.