A botched pharmaceutical heist turned deadly serious in federal court as Raymond Denson, 38, of Trafford, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 62 months in prison for his role as getaway driver in a violent attempted robbery outside a Giant Eagle in Gibsonia. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak, includes 20 months already served and five years of supervised release.
On April 27, 2016, Denson waited behind the wheel while co-defendants David Lipinski and Anthony Bailey tried to hijack a delivery van carrying pharmaceutical drugs. Surveillance footage and witness testimony revealed Lipinski brandished a firearm, threatening the driver and demanding he return to the vehicle. The plan collapsed when the delivery driver resisted and the suspects fled the scene.
Denson was later apprehended and convicted on two counts: attempted robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The firearm charge alone carried a mandatory minimum sentence, sealing Denson’s fate with no chance for parole under federal sentencing guidelines.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the danger posed by armed robbery attempts on commercial deliveries. “This wasn’t some petty theft,” Kaufman stated. “They targeted a high-value pharmaceutical shipment with a loaded gun. Lives were on the line.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Northern Regional Police Department led the investigation, tracking down evidence that tied Denson to the vehicle used in the escape. The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Justice Department’s nationwide initiative to dismantle violent criminal activity through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady praised the outcome, calling it a win for public safety. “Denson and his crew thought they could pull off a high-stakes robbery and vanish,” Brady said. “Instead, they got federal time. Thanks to PSN, we’re putting violent offenders where they belong—behind bars.”
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- David Lipinski Gets 5+ Years for Pharmacy Heist Gun Threat · Pennsylvania
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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