Two men were sentenced to 15+ years in prison for a string of armed robberies across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Michael Kolmonen, 20 stores in the region were robbed by two individuals, Michael Kolmonen and Brian Branch. Between the summer and fall of 2016, the pair robbed 20 stores, with almost all of them being robbed together. In nearly every robbery, Branch entered the store, brandished a gun, and demanded money from the register.
The victims of these robberies were as young as 17 and as old as 76 years old. The locations of the robberies included BP, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Dunkirk Liquors, Papa John’s, and Valero Shore Stop, among others.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Leonard P. Stark sentenced Michael Kolmonen to 15 years in prison and Brian Branch to 16½ years in prison. The judge stated that the defendants engaged in a ‘reign of terror for several months’ and that both defendants had equal roles in it.
U.S. Attorney Weiss said, ‘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.’
Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr., Superintendent of the Delaware State Police, shared, ‘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.’
This case was investigated by 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.
Defendant: Michael Kolmonen
Criminal Charges: Armed Robbery
City: Wilmington
State: Delaware
Crime Date: Summer and Fall 2016
Sentence: 15 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Delaware
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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