Man Admits To 30-Plus Robberies Across CT, Including North Haven: Feds

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A Bristol man has pleaded guilty in connection with numerous violent robberies across Connecticut, including in North Haven, in September and October 2022, according to officials.

Lonny Cross, 45, appeared before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Cross faces a maximum term of 40 years in prison. He's scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between Sept. 5 and Oct. 13, 2022, Cross committed 37 robberies and attempted robberies of gas station convenience stores, mini-markets, and liquor stores in Bristol; Darien; Franklin; Groton City; Ledyard; Naugatuck; New Haven; North Branford; North Haven; Norwalk; Norwich; Orange; Plymouth; Seymour; Southington; Stonington; Stratford; Waterbury; Waterford; Watertown; West Haven; Wethersfield; Wolcott; and Port Chester, N.Y.

In North Haven, according to prosecutors, Cross stole around $1,000 from Shell Gas Station on Maple Avenue, and $4,300 from Sunoco Gas Station on Universal Drive. Both robberies took place on Sept. 23, 2022.

Cross's highest single score was $5,500 from a gas station in Plymouth on Sept. 17, 2022, prosecutors noted. Overall, Cross stole $58,773.

Several of the robberies occurred on the same day, only minutes apart, according to a news release.

“Cross typically traveled to the victim-store with an accomplice who would sometimes enter the store to determine the number of employees and customers in the store, exit the store, and then report that information to Cross,” officials wrote in the news release. “Cross then entered the store, displayed a knife or facsimile firearm while threatening employees, and stole cash and other items.”

On Oct.14, 2022, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of Cross’s residence and a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala that Cross was known to drive, officials said.

“The search of the residence revealed clothing consistent with clothing worn by Cross in several of the robberies, as well as quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, and narcotics paraphernalia,” officials wrote. “A search of the car revealed 120 bags heroin, approximately 14 grams of crack, and a knit hat matching the description of one worn by Cross during a robbery the day before.”

Cross, who was on state parole, was arrested on state charges on Oct. 14, 2022, and has been detained since his arrest.

The investigation has been conducted by the FBI, Connecticut State Police, Orange Police Department, Port Chester (N.Y.) Police Department, and numerous other police departments from the municipalities where the robberies occurred, with the assistance of Connecticut State Parole, according to officials.