Armed Robbers Get 15+ Years

WILMINGTON, Del. – In a brazen spree of violence, two men have been sentenced to 15+ years in prison for robbing 20 stores across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Michael Kolmonen, 15 years, and Brian Branch, 16½ years, were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Leonard P. Stark for their roles in a string of armed robberies that terrorized communities in the summer and fall of 2016.

The two men victimized 30 people, most of whom were teenagers or the elderly, in their brazen heists. The victims ranged in age from 17 to 76 years old.

The robbers targeted convenience stores, pharmacies, and a pizza joint, leaving a trail of fear and destruction in their wake. The stores robbed included:

• BP, 2360 Pulaski Highway, New Castle, DE
• Walgreens 4114 Ogletown-Stanton Rd, Newark, DE
• Walgreens 1500 Beaverbrook Plaza, New Castle, DE
• …

“These robberies were particularly brazen; the defendants robbed stores in broad daylight and their victims were often the most vulnerable among us—employees whose only crime was trying to make a living,” said U.S. Attorney Weiss.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI Baltimore, Wilmington Office, the Delaware State Police, Upper Darby (PA) Police Department, and Elkton (MD) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Mackler prosecuted the case.

Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Superintendent of the Delaware State Police, praised the partnership between law enforcement agencies, saying, “The sentencing hearings were centered around the victims, and the lasting effect that these violent crimes had and will continue to have on their lives going forward.”

The sentencing of Kolmonen and Branch is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies to root out violent crime and bring perpetrators to justice.