5th Sentence Announced In AT&T Robbery Spree With Glastonbury Ties

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The last of five members of what authorities describe as "a violent robbery crew" has been given a 10-year sentence for his role in a string of crimes at AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts that included a Glastonbury location.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Ronaldo Smith 25, of Hartford, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months in prison for his involvement in the spree.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2021, Smith, Alex Josephs, Shaquille Raymond and Deshawn Baugh were involved. They typically entered the stores shortly before closing, pointed weapons at employees, and, at times, pistol-whipped, dragged and shoved employees toward the back inventory room, according to case records. They then held the employees at gunpoint while loading large bags with cell phones and other electronics, case records indicate.

The group stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise, Avery said.

According to case records, Saviana Bourne, who worked at AT&T stores, helped plan the robberies, served as a getaway driver, and coordinated the sale of the stolen merchandise.

The investigation revealed that Smith, Josephs, and Raymond robbed AT&T stores in Newington on Jan. 29, 2021, and in Enfield on Feb. 24, 2021. Baugh then joined them and together they robbed an AT&T store in Canton on April 15, 2021, and attempted to rob stores in Torrington and Glastonbury in May 2021, but were locked out of the stores, Avery said.

According to case records, on June 6, 2021, Smith and his associates, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, two revolvers, and a semiautomatic rifle, robbed an AT&T store in West Springfield, MA. After the robbery, they fled in a vehicle driven by Bourne, who led police on a high-speed chase that ended when their vehicle collided with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser, according to case records. Smith, Josephs, Raymond, Baugh, and Bourne were arrested, and a search of the vehicle revealed more than $150,000 in stolen merchandise, as well as the firearms used during the robbery, Avery said.

Judge Underhill ordered Smith to pay restitution of $298,073.86, which reflects the losses from the Newington, Enfield, and Canton robberies. The property stolen in the West Springfield robbery was recovered.

Smith has been detained since his arrest. On Jan 5 of this year, he pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Josephs, Raymond, Baugh, and Bourne also pleaded guilty. On March 1, Baugh was sentenced to 108 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $124,842.45, which reflects the loss from the Canton robbery. On March 29, Raymond was sentenced to 72 months and Bourne was sentenced to 78 months. On May 23, Josephs was sentenced to 120 months. Josephs, Raymond, and Bourne were also ordered to pay restitution of $298,073.86.

Josephs and Raymond, who are citizens of Jamaica, face immigration proceedings when they are released from prison, Avery said.