2 Sentenced In New Brighton Armed Robbery

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Two men were sentenced in St. Paul Federal Court on Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 12 armed robbery of a New Brighton gas station.

Terry Lamar Roberts Jr., 23 of Fridley, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in connection with the incident. Theodore Julius Collins, 26 of Minneapolis, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Both men were indicted Feb. 15. Roberts pleaded guilty on April 22 to one count of possession of a firearm and one count of interference with commerce by robbery. Collins pleaded guilty on May 2 to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

In the plea agreement, Roberts admitted that on Jan. 12, he robbed the E-Z gas station at gunpoint and fled the scene with $195.97. He fled to a waiting vehicle that Collins was driving.

When confronted by police, Collins admitted to committing armed robberies of a Brooklyn Center O'Reilly Auto Parts store on Nov. 17, 2010, a Crystal Pizza Man restaurant on Nov. 21, 2010, the same E-Z Stop store on Dec. 7, 2010, a Plymouth Dominos Pizza on Dec. 19, 2010 and a Crystal O'Reilly Auto Parts store on Dec. 21, 2010.

Roberts also admitted that from May of 2004 through December of 2010, he committed six armed robberies at various stores in the Twin Cities metro area. Collins also admitted to driving Roberts to the E-Z Stop on Jan. 12.