Lennie Dwayne Brooks, Home Invasion Robbery, Minnesota 2018
The Grimy Times reports that a string of violent home invasion robberies has been brought to a close with the sentencing of Lennie Dwayne Brooks, 34, to 365 months in prison. On November 5, 2019, co-defendant Esperanza Cardenas, 30, was sentenced to 50 months in prison.
Brooks and his brother Randy Lorenzo Brooks, 24, along with co-defendant Autumn Marie Nichols, 21, were found guilty of their roles in the violent home invasion robberies. The defendants admitted to breaking into private residences in Eden Prairie, Ellendale, and Waite Park, Minnesota, and stealing a total of $270,000 in cash and valuables.
On October 6, 2018, Brooks and his brother broke into a private residence in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, while Nichols waited in the getaway car. Randy Brooks held two victims at gunpoint while Lennie Brooks searched the house for money and valuables. During that time, one of the victims went into cardiac arrest, but neither defendant called for medical help nor did they allow the second victim to call for help. The defendants stole approximately $50,000 in cash, which was the business proceeds of the Shuang Hur Asian Markets located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
On September 23, 2018, Brooks and his brother broke into a private residence in Ellendale, Minnesota, while Cardenas waited in the getaway car. Randy Brooks held two victims at gunpoint while Lennie Brooks searched the house for money and valuables. The defendants stole approximately $40,000 in cash, which was the business proceeds of the Holland Auction Company located in Ellendale, Minnesota.
On August 16, 2018, Brooks and his brother broke into a private residence in Waite Park, Minnesota. Randy Brooks held two victims at gunpoint while Lennie Brooks searched the house for money and valuables. The defendants stole approximately $180,000 in jewelry and gemstones, which belonged to Trisko Jewelry located in Waite Park, Minnesota.
The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, prohibits actual or attempted robbery affecting interstate or foreign commerce 'in any way or degree.'
The case was the result of a multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Eden Prairie Police, Steele County Sheriff's Office, Woodbury Police, Cottage Grove Police, St. Paul Police, Minneapolis Police, Winona Police, Wabasha Police, Prior Lake Police, Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team, St. Croix County Sheriff's Office, Wabasha County Sheriff's Office, and Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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