Two Sentenced for Hobbs Act Robbery, Carjacking, Firearms Violations

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Julie Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced that defendants Kurt D. Anderson and Leon D. Clarke were sentenced on robbery, carjacking and firearms charges. On July 6, 2007, a jury convicted Anderson of eleven counts including: (1) conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence (Count 1) ; interference with commerce by threats or violence (Counts 2 and 6); brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence (Counts 3 and 11); discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence (Count 7); felon in possession of a firearm (Counts 4, 8, and 12) ;conspiracy to commit carjacking (Count 9); and carjacking (Count 10). At todays hearing, United States District Court Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced Anderson to 789 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution to Andersons victims. Clarke previously pled guilty to the conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence (Count 1); interference with commerce by threats or violence (Count 2); brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence (Counts 3 and 15); conspiracy to commit carjacking (count 9); and carjacking (Counts 10, 13 and 14). Clarke was sentenced to 356 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution to the victims. Anderson and Clarke were arrested in Cobb County, Georgia, following a crime spree that lasted two weeks and spanned three Florida counties. Clarke admitted that on January 23, 2007, in Palm Beach County, he attempted to carjack a Lexus automobile while brandishing a firearm, and thereafter, carjacked an Oldsmobile from a parking lot in Boynton Beach. On February 3, 2007, Anderson and Clarke, each armed with weapons, robbed a Publix Super Market in Port St. Lucie, getting away with cash and checks. Also on February 3, 2007, Anderson robbed the Lil Saints Texaco in Stuart, brandishing two firearms and discharging one into the surveillance system before fleeing the scene with cash and coins. On February 4, 2007, Anderson and Clarke, driving the stolen Oldsmobile, carjacked an Audi from a gas station in Port St. Lucie, Florida, with Anderson pointing a revolver at the driver. Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office, the Martin County Sheriffs Office, the Boynton Beach Police Department and the Cobb County, Georgia Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Corey Steinberg and Beth Sreenan.