Man With 4.0 GPA Sentenced For Bensalem Armed Robbery

A man who robbed a Bensalem GNC store at gunpoint last year has been sentenced to serve six to 15 years in state prison. Francis Algarin, 51, who defense attorneys described as an "atypical" criminal due to his GPA and scholastic accomplishments, pleaded guilty to an October 2015 armed robbery in which he demanded money from the cashier while displaying a handgun.

Algarin later told police it was a BB gun he used in the Oct. 22 robbery, during which he ran off with $360.

Algarin has also pleaded guilty to three additional robberies in Montgomery County. Sentencing for those crimes will be next month. He admitted to authorities he committed the robberies to feed his drug habit, the District Attorney's office said.

Defense attorneys asserted that Algarin is not your typical criminal: he accumulated 43 credits and earned a 4.0 grade point average from Montgomery County Community College before relapsing.

“I’m nauseated at my behavior,” he said, according to the District Attorney's office. “I can’t even read my own police report (because) I can’t believe that was me.”

Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Byrne argued that Algarin “has had every benefit of the criminal justice system at his disposal,” including drug rehabilitation and mental health treatment, but has continued to commit crimes.

During sentencing, Bucks County Common Pleas Court Judge Gary B. Gilman said “I don’t give up easily on people, and I’m not giving up on you. But I need to protect the community.”