William Davis, Kidnapping and Jewelry Store Robbery, Connecticut 2014

A brazen kidnapping and jewelry store robbery in Connecticut has resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for a Pennsylvania man. William Davis, 27, of Allentown, Pa., was sentenced to 176 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in the violent crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis and three other men, all of whom were wearing masks and gloves and two of whom were armed with handguns, broke into an apartment on Gravel Street in Meriden, Conn., on April 11, 2013. The group bound four victims with duct tape and covered their heads with pillowcases, towels, and jackets. Davis and others then forced two of the victims into a victim’s vehicle and drove to Lenox Jewelers in Fairfield, Conn., where the two victims worked.

At the store, the perpetrators stole jewelry, watches, and loose diamonds with a total replacement value of more than $3 million. They then fled in the victim’s car, leaving the two victims bound inside the store. Davis was arrested at his Allentown residence on May 22, 2013, and a search of his residence revealed approximately $65,000 in cash, seven expensive watches, several pieces of diamond-encrusted jewelry, and a large quantity of crack cocaine.

DAVIS was ordered to pay restitution of more than $3.1 million and has been detained since his arrest. On December 15, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Four other men have been charged with participating in this kidnapping and robbery. Two have pleaded guilty and await sentencing, and two are awaiting trial.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fairfield Police Department, and Meriden Police Department. U.S. Attorney Daly also acknowledged the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI in New York and Pennsylvania; the York, Allentown, and Bethlehem Police Departments in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton. The violent crime has sent shockwaves through the community, and the lengthy prison sentence is a reminder of the seriousness of such crimes.

Davis’s involvement in the kidnapping and robbery has resulted in a significant financial loss for the victims and their families. The restitution order of more than $3.1 million is a significant step towards making the victims whole.

The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to bringing perpetrators to justice and holding them accountable for their crimes. The lengthy prison sentence handed down to Davis is a testament to the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.

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