Two brothers, Lennie Dwayne Brooks, 34, and Randy Lorenzo Brooks, 24, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a string of violent home invasion robberies in Minnesota. The brothers were joined in their crimes by an accomplice, Autumn Marie Nichols, 21, who also received a prison sentence.
On November 5, 2019, co-defendant Esperanza Cardenas, 30, was previously sentenced to 50 months in prison. Lennie Brooks was sentenced to 365 months in prison, Randy Brooks to 240 months in prison, and Nichols to 120 months in prison.
According to court documents, the Brooks brothers, on three separate occasions in 2018, committed violent home invasion robberies and, in one incident, caused the death of a robbery victim. The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, prohibits actual or attempted robbery affecting interstate or foreign commerce ‘in any way or degree.’
The first incident occurred on October 6, 2018, when Lennie and Randy Brooks 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, however 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. The defendants admitted that the victim who went into cardiac arrest died as a direct result of the home invasion.
The second incident occurred on September 23, 2018, when Lennie and Randy Brooks 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.
The third incident occurred on August 16, 2018, when Lennie and Randy Brooks 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.
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald stated, ‘Lennie and Randy Brooks carefully planned and carried out multiple violent home invasion robberies, one resulting in the death of a victim. Although nothing can replace the lost sense of safety and security of one’s home or the loss of a loved one, today’s sentencings offer some measure of justice for the victims.’
Special Agent in Charge William Terry Henderson, of the ATF Saint Paul Field Division, added, ‘After more than a year of investigation and court proceedings, the Brooks brothers’ victims have justice. ATF has worked closely with the victims in this case to provide status updates, resources, and support to help recover from the traumatic experiences resulting from the brothers’ violent crime spree. No one deserves what these people went through, and our hope is that peace can be found in the finality of this sentencing. We are grateful to our many law enforcement partners whose efforts led to the apprehension of those responsible for these crimes and ultimately for the success of this case.’
Related Federal Cases
- Davison Glover, Gunpoint Robberies, Minnesota 2024 · Minnesota
- Devon Dwayne Reginald Glover, Violent Armed Robbery, MN 2020 · Mississippi
- Mohamed Zaki Mohamed Elsayed, Gas Station Robberies, Minnesota 2023 · Georgia
- Minnesota Crime Stats 1930: Rise of Violent Crime · Minnesota
- Minnesota 1941: Rife with Robberies and Racketeers · Minnesota
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
