DEL RIO, TX – Simon Robert Barron, 21, a former U.S. Air Force Reserve airman, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today for a brazen pharmacy burglary and theft of government property. The ex-airman, temporarily stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base, received two concurrent 21-month imprisonment terms after pleading guilty in February.
Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. announced the sentencing, handed down by United States District Judge Alia Moses. The crime unfolded on May 20, 2013, when Barron attempted to purchase cough syrup at the LifeChek Pharmacy on North Bedell Avenue, but was denied due to a lack of prescription. He didn’t take no for an answer.
Later that evening, Barron returned armed with a rock and smashed a window, gaining entry to the pharmacy. He then proceeded to steal an astonishing assortment of narcotics with a retail value exceeding $63,000. The haul wasn’t limited to drugs. Just two days later, Barron’s intoxication at Laughlin AFB triggered a medical evaluation, revealing a cocktail of illegal substances in his system – marijuana, Xanax, cocaine, codeine, and multiple opiates.
A subsequent search of Barron’s barracks room, authorized by a military magistrate and executed by Air Force OSI investigators, uncovered the full extent of his criminal enterprise. Over 6,300 pills and liquid narcotics stolen from the LifeChek Pharmacy were found alongside stolen government property: seven GPS units, two digital cameras, a power drill, an LED flashlight, and a Motorola Radio Base Station. Authorities also recovered an Air Force air compressor from his vehicle.
The investigation didn’t stop there. Investigators traced a Government chainsaw Barron had pawned at a local shop on the very day of the pharmacy burglary, further cementing the case against him. Judge Moses didn’t just hand down the prison sentences. Barron was also ordered to pay $3,980.11 in restitution for the stolen goods and will be subject to three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
The case was a joint effort between the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Del Rio Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Burke and Matthew Watters successfully prosecuted the case on behalf of the Government, ensuring that Barron will answer for his reckless disregard for the law and the safety of the Del Rio community. This case serves as a stark reminder that even those sworn to uphold the law are not above it.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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