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Memphis Gunman Gets 22 Years for Pharmacy Heist
BARTLETT, TN – A brazen daylight robbery of the Bartlett Prescription Shop back in June 2016 has finally landed 48-year-old Patrick Owens of Memphis a hefty 262-month federal prison sentence. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing on Thursday, April 6, 2017, bringing a close to a case that rattled the quiet suburban community.
The scene unfolded on the morning of June 13, 2016, when Owens stormed into the pharmacy located at 5675 Stage Road, brandishing a firearm. He bypassed the public area, heading directly behind the counter where three employees were working. Demanding they open the vault, Owens absconded with several hundred prescription pills – a cocktail of various medications that investigators believe were intended for resale. The situation escalated when Owens threatened one of the employees with the weapon and then stole her car keys, intending to use the vehicle for his escape. He then forced the employees into the store’s restroom, holding them at gunpoint.
Owens’ escape plan quickly unraveled. Surveillance footage captured him entering the employee’s vehicle, but he didn’t make it out of the parking lot. As fate would have it, a Bartlett Police Officer entered the store at that very moment. Owens abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into nearby woods. A swift response from law enforcement led to his capture near the scene, still wearing the same clothing as the robber depicted in the pharmacy’s security cameras.
The evidence stacked up quickly. Police recovered a bag filled with the stolen pills, along with an Arminius .38 caliber revolver, a red hat, a surgical mask, and a pair of gloves – all found near the vehicle and where Owens was apprehended. After four days of questioning, Owens confessed to the robbery of the Bartlett Prescription Shop, admitting to the planning and execution of the crime. He was later charged with one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes handed down the 262-month sentence (that’s 22 years) on Thursday, sending a clear message that armed robbery won’t be tolerated in the Western District of Tennessee. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bartlett Police Department and the Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers successfully prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, securing a conviction and a substantial prison term for Owens.
The case highlights the ongoing threat of prescription drug theft and the dangers faced by pharmacy employees. While the pills recovered represent a significant disruption to potential illicit distribution, the underlying issues of drug abuse and violent crime remain pressing concerns for local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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