TAMPA, FL – Scott Carpenter Jr., 46, of Lakeland, Florida, will spend the next 28 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a spree of 13 armed robberies across central Florida. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington handed down the sentence Wednesday, concluding a case that stretched back to 2018 and revealed a pattern of calculated violence targeting mostly Dollar Tree stores.
Carpenter’s method was chillingly consistent. Between August 2018 and August 2021, he stalked closing Dollar Tree locations in Lakeland, Auburndale, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Brandon, Zephyrhills, Gibsonton, and Temple Terrace. He’d lie in wait, dressed in black, and ambush employees as they either walked to their cars with the day’s earnings or made deposits at nearby banks. Each time, he brandished a firearm, threatened the victims, and demanded cash. The brazenness of the attacks, consistently targeting the same type of business, painted a picture of a predator meticulously planning each heist.
The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), uncovered a cache of evidence linking Carpenter to the crimes. A search of his Lakeland home and truck turned up the firearms used in the robberies, along with the black clothing he wore during the attacks. The evidence was damning, ultimately leading to Carpenter’s guilty plea on November 14, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Gordon successfully prosecuted the case.
Beyond the prison sentence, Carpenter was ordered to forfeit three firearms and 122 rounds of ammunition, effectively removing these weapons from the streets. He’s also been slapped with a hefty restitution order of $22,220.52, meant to reimburse the victims for their losses. While no amount of money can truly compensate for the trauma inflicted, the order represents a measure of accountability for Carpenter’s actions.
Federal officials are framing Carpenter’s conviction as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, and strategic enforcement.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those working in retail and the relentless efforts of federal agencies to bring violent offenders to justice. Carpenter’s 28-year sentence sends a clear message: armed robbery will not be tolerated, and those who threaten the safety of others will face severe consequences. The ATF’s Tampa Field Division spearheaded the investigation, bringing a dangerous criminal off the streets and providing some measure of relief to the communities he terrorized.
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