Lamel Miller, Armed Robbery, New York 2020

South Ozone Park, Queens, NY – A brazen armed robbery at the Aqueduct Racetrack in March 2020 wasn’t just a smash-and-grab; it was an inside job, according to federal prosecutors. A jury in Brooklyn delivered guilty verdicts today to Lamel Miller and Lafayette Morrison, revealing a scheme where a racetrack security guard actively aided the heist, then attempted to pose as a victim. The two men robbed more than $284,000 in cash earnings from racetrack employees.

The operation unfolded around 10 p.m. after the Gotham Day stakes races. Miller and a still-unnamed co-conspirator ambushed employees transporting the day’s earnings to a vault. Gunfire wasn’t reported, but the threat of violence was clear. Employees were forced into a closet while the robbers made off with the cash and their cell phones. The stolen funds were later divided – $100,000 apiece for Miller and his accomplice, with $84,000 funneled to Lafayette Morrison.

The shocking twist? Morrison wasn’t just present during the robbery; he was the “inside man.” Federal prosecutors proved Morrison provided critical information about the cash transport schedule and security procedures. He then attempted to mislead investigators, claiming to be another victim of the robbery and even misidentifying a photograph of his childhood friend, Lamel Miller, in a bid to cover his tracks. This obstruction of justice charge ultimately sealed his fate.

“Their armed robbery of Aqueduct Racetrack played out like a Hollywood movie heist, but with a bad ending for the defendants who now face steep prison sentences,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Today’s verdict proves once again that it is a losing bet to commit a violent crime and think that you will outrun the law.” ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito echoed the sentiment, stating the case “should serve as a warning to those who believe that armed robbery will be tolerated.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell highlighted the betrayal of trust at the heart of the case. “This violent robbery plot, featuring a racetrack security guard who betrayed his duty, showed a callous disregard for several victims,” she said. The joint investigation, conducted by the ATF Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery and Technical Apprehension (SPARTA) Group and the NYPD’s Queens Robbery Squad, brought the perpetrators to justice.

Both Lafayette Morrison and Lamel Miller now face a minimum of seven years in prison, with the potential for life imprisonment. Miller pleaded guilty in September 2022. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. Galeotti and Rachel A. Shanies prosecuted the case. The Department of Justice has not released information regarding the unnamed co-conspirator at this time, leaving open the possibility of further arrests in connection with the Aqueduct Racetrack heist.

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