Man Admits To Role In Armed Robbery Of Hamden Game Store: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — A New Haven man faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday in federal court to the armed robbery of a game store in Hamden last year. Rashon Gray, also known as “Loke,” 24, brandished a gun and threatened to kill a store employee during the robbery, according to authorities. He had been on probation at the time of the robbery.

According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 4:22 p.m. on April 27, 2016, two men and two women, who had their head and faces partially concealed, entered the Game X Change in Hamden.

"One of the men pulled out a gun and ordered the store's three employees to get down on the ground," according to a press release from the U.S. States Attorney’s Office. “The man with the gun put his foot on an employee's back and pressed the gun against the employee's head and neck, threatening to kill the employee if he did not give him money and the keys to the display case. The employee complied and the four suspects took several items, including cellular telephones, an iPad, an iPod, 'Beats' headphones, and a cash box that contained $830. The four ran out of the store to a waiting car."

Investigators subsequently identified Gray as the individual who brandished the firearm and threatened the store employee, authorities said.

Gray was on state probation at the time of the robbery. On May 6, 2016, police and probation officers found him in possession of a cell phone that had been taken during the robbery and his probation was revoked, according to authorities.

Gray has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 21.

Gray pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26, 2018.

Four other people have been charged and convicted as a result of the investigation.

Image via Shutterstock