Crime Spree Suspect Pleads Guilty To Wethersfield Robberies: Feds

BRIDGEPORT/WETHERSFIELD, CT — A 45-year-old Bristol man pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with a 2022 robbery spree in several Connecticut towns, including Wethersfield.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said Lonny Cross, 45, of Bristol, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to charges related to numerous violent robberies across Connecticut in September and October 2022.

Two robberies took place in Wethersfield on Sept. 24, 2022, according to authorities.

• A Price Cutter gas station at 724 Sileas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, was robbed of $900.

• A Mobil gas station at 708 Sileas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, was robbed of $550.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between Sep, 5 and Oct. 13, 2022, Cross committed 37 robberies and attempted robberies of gas station convenience stores, mini-markets, and liquor stores.

Those incidents were reported in North Branford, Waterbury, Wolcott, Plymouth, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, Wethersfield, Bristol, Southington, Naugatuck, Watertown, Franklin, Norwich, Waterford, Groton City, Stonington, Ledyard, Darien, Norwalk, Stratford, and Seymour, Connecticut, and Port Chester, N.Y.

Several of the robberies occurred on the same day, only minutes apart, Avery said.

She said Cross typically traveled to the 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.

Cross, said Avery, 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, she 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, authorities said

A search of the car revealed 120 bags of heroin, approximately 14 grams of crack, and a knit hat matching the description of one worn by Cross during a robbery the day before, Avery said.

Cross, who was on state parole, was arrested on state charges on that date and has been detained since his arrest, she said.

Cross pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery.

Dooley scheduled a sentencing for Aug. 21, at which time Cross faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

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