Man Gets 21 Years For Violent Robberies In Stratford, Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Bridgeport man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for violent armed robberies, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. Jachim Brown, aka "Ameer Edwards," 29, will also serve five years of supervised release for committing several violent armed robberies in 2017 during which he shot and wounded two individuals.

According to court documents, Brown committed a string of armed robberies in Bridgeport and Stratford from September to November of 2017. In the first instance, he robbed Nikita's Bar, located on Iranistan Avenue in Bridgeport, and pointed a gun at the only employee who was working at the time. He stole $2,450 in this robbery.

During the robbery, the car of Brown's half-brother, Eric Chambers, can be seen on surveillance video driving past the entrance to the bar. Chambers had previously worked security at the bar, according to the statement.

Brown , again brandishing a gun Nov. 9, robbed an employee of Avenue Restaurant who was couriering about $2,000 in cash to Bishop's Corner Café on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport. Surveillance video outside Bishop's Corner again revealed Chambers's car in close vicinity to the robbery.

On Nov. 13, 2017, the same employee, who had delegated his money courier responsibilities to another security guard after the Nov. 9 robbery, was again confronted by Brown. When Brown realized that the employee did not have the cash, he shot the employee in the thigh.

On Nov. 14, 2017, Brown, wearing a mask and brandishing a gun, entered the Bar Restaurant, located on Main Street in Stratford, and walked directly to a bin near the cash register that typically contained about 80 envelopes with cash payments for employees of the Bar Restaurant and other establishments.

Brown grabbed the bin, pointed his gun at one employee's head, and turned and fired at a second employee who had his hands raised, hitting the second employee in the stomach. Surveillance video revealed that Brown had been dropped off behind the restaurant by Chambers, according to prosecutors.

On Nov. 16, 2017, at about 9:35 a.m., Bridgeport police responded to a call of an armed robbery in progress at EbLens, located on Pequonnock Street in Bridgeport. After Brown exited the store, a Bridgeport police officer chased him on foot. As Brown attempted to get into Chambers's car, he turned and fired at the police officer. The officer returned fire, tackled Brown and placed him under arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Brown possessed a Raven P25 .25 ACP caliber handgun. Forensic analysis of the firearm revealed that it had also been used in the shootings of the two people Nov. 13 and 14.

Brown has been detained since his arrest. On May 29, 2019, he pleaded guilty to four counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.