Woman Found Guilty of Robbing Person With Cerebral Palsy of Lottery Winnings

WORCESTER, MA –A former Worcester woman could serve up to eight years for robbing a 48-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and her mother of their winning scratch ticket.

A Superior Court jury on Wednesday found the former Worcester woman guilty of robbing a disabled woman of her lottery winnings, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. Wendy J. LaPorte, 41, was found guilty of armed robbery while masked and assault and battery on an elderly or disabled person.

LaPorte and a co-defendant, Sayed D. McKenzie, 29, were charged in the Feb. 26, 2014 robbery. According to the district attorney, they followed a 48-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and her mother from a Shell gasoline station on Lincoln Street after they saw the younger woman cash a scratch ticket for $400. They followed the pair to a parking lot of an apartment complex, where the robbery and assault occurred.

McKenzie pleaded guilty to the same charges in March and was sentenced 10 to 12 years in state prison.

Assistant Attorney General Terrance Reidy recommended that LaPorte be sentenced to 15 to 20 years for the armed robbery and 2 to 3 years on the assault and battery. Defense attorney Sarah Hamilton recommended her client be sentenced to probation.

Judge Richard Tucker sentenced LaPorte to two-and-a-half to five years on the robbery conviction and 2 to 3 years on the assault and battery conviction. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

“This was a great team effort,” Early said in a statement. “I applaud the jury for their verdict. Our victim showed tremendous strength and courage. We are glad to give her closure. I am very proud of our prosecution team including the Worcester Police Department, prosecutor Terry Reidy, and our supervisor of victim-witness advocates Margaret Rwaramba.”