Gary man sentenced to nearly 20 years for armed robbery
Omarr Williams, 43, of Gary, was sentenced last week by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to a release from United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Williams was sentenced on May 25 to 235 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
Court records state that, on October 8, 2019, Williams robbed a First Financial Bank branch in Hammond. Upon entering the bank, Williams pointed a firearm at a bank teller and demanded money. At the time of his arrest, Williams was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm and $1,597.
Williams, along with co-defendant Anthony Day, were charged in connection with three Lake County robberies that took place from Sept. 5, 2019 until the pair’s arrest in Gary’s Brunswick neighborhood Oct. 8, 2019. At the time he committed the bank robbery, Williams was on probation for a prior armed robbery conviction, and he was determined to be a career offender which resulted in an increase to his sentence.
The pair is alleged to have taken $24,886 from various financial institutions, according to court documents.
Gary man sentenced to 50 Months in Prison
Courtney Lewis, 41, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Lewis was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to court documents in the case, Lewis was stopped by the police on August 28, 2020. An officer observed a firearm between Lewis’ leg and tried to remove it but Lewis resisted, pulled the gun from the officer and sped away, records state. While fleeing, Lewis threw the gun from the vehicle, court documents state.
Lewis had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including robbery, cheating at a gambling game, and possessing a firearm as a felon, and as such, was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Michigan Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison
Taequan Richardson, 23, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Richardson was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on July 10, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road on a vehicle. During the search of the car, law enforcement recovered a firearm underneath the front passenger’s seat at Richardson’s feet.
Richardson’s criminal history revealed he has a prior Michigan conviction for manufacturing/delivering controlled substances, and as such, was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
