NEW YORK, NY – A gunman wanted for at least 14 armed robberies in New York City has been found guilty in federal court.
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced yesterday that a jury returned a guilty verdict against Justin Hampton for robbery, armed robbery, and possession of firearms. Hampton is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2023, by United States District Judge John P. Cronan.
“Justin Hampton terrorized hardworking New Yorkers with his three-week spree of gunpoint robberies, brandishing a loaded firearm and stealing cash, lottery tickets, and cigarettes. A jury has now found Hampton guilty, and he faces prison time for his crimes,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.
According to court records, between October 18, 2021, and November 10, 2021, Hampton and co-conspirators committed 14 robberies at dollar stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants. During the robbery, Hampton served as the gunman for the crew. He entered each establishment late at night or early in the morning, brandished a firearm at employees, and demanded cash, large quantities of lottery tickets, and cigarettes.
Typically, Hampton and his co-conspirators fled the scene in his car and, on numerous occasions, cashed stolen lottery tickets in order to obtain lottery winnings shortly after the robberies.
After Hampton and his crew committed 12 robberies, law enforcement seized Hampton’s car and later recovered a gun hidden in the car’s ceiling. Despite the seizure of his car and gun, Hampton went on to commit two additional robberies using a motorized scooter and a pellet gun that resembled a real gun.
Hampton, 34, of New York, was convicted on one count of robbery conspiracy, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; two counts of robbery, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison each; one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.