Press Release
TWO MEN SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON TERMS FOR HOBBS ACTS ROBBERY, CARJACKING AND FIREARMS VIOLATIONS
September 5, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Julie Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced today that defendants Kurt D. Anderson and Leon D. Clarke were sentenced on robbery, carjacking and firearms charges.
On July 6, 2007, a jury convicted Anderson of eleven counts including: (1) conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence (Count 1) ; interference with commerce by threats or violence (Counts 2 and 6); brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence (Counts 3 and 11); discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence (Count 7); felon in possession of a firearm (Counts 4, 8, and12) ;conspiracy to commit carjacking (Count 9); and carjacking (Count 10). At today's hearing, United States District Court Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Anderson to 789 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution to Anderson's victims.
Clarke previously pled guilty to the conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence (Count 1); interference with commerce by threats or violence (Count 2); brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence (Counts 3 and 15); conspiracy to commit carjacking (count 9); and carjacking (Counts 10, 13 and 14). Clarke was sentenced to 356 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution to the victims.
Anderson and Clarke were arrested in Cobb County, Georgia, following a crime spree that lasted two weeks and spanned three Florida counties. Clarke admitted that on January 23, 2007, in Palm Beach County, he attempted to carjack a Lexus automobile while brandishing a firearm, and thereafter, carjacked an Oldsmobile from a parking lot in Boynton Beach. On February 3, 2007, Anderson and Clarke, each armed with weapons, robbed a Publix Super Market in Port St. Lucie, getting away with cash and checks. Also on February 3, 2007, Anderson robbed the Lil' Saints Texaco in Stuart, brandishing two firearms and discharging one into the surveillance system before fleeing the scene with cash and coins. On February 4, 2007, Anderson and Clarke, driving the stolen Oldsmobile, carjacked an Audi from a gas station in Port St. Lucie, Florida, with Anderson pointing a revolver at the driver.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, the Martin County Sheriff's Office, the Boynton Beach Police Department and the Cobb County, Georgia Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Corey Steinberg and Beth Sreenan.
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.
Technical comments about this website can be e-mailed to the Webmaster. PLEASE NOTE: The United States Attorney's Office does not respond to non-technical inquiries made to this website. If you wish to make a request for information, you may contact our office at 305-961-9001, or you may send a written inquiry to the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, 99 NE 4th Street, Miami, Fl. 33132.