PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Cleveland, Ohio, was found guilty after a two-day jury trial of offenses related to the burglary of the store of a federally licensed gun dealer and the robbery of a gas station, in Clarion County, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Reginald Patterson, 23, of Cleveland Ohio., was convicted of conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer, theft of firearms from a licensed firearms dealer, possession of stolen firearms, interstate transportation of stolen firearms, conspiracy to commit robbery, and robbery.

Reginald Patterson’s brother, Rayshawn Patterson, pleaded guilty to the same offenses in September 2019. According to information provided to the court, the brothers traveled from Cleveland to rural areas of western Pennsylvania in December 2017 to commit these crimes. On December 22, 2017, they robbed a Fastway gas station convenience store, physically assaulting the lone employee working at the time in the process. The following night, they returned to the area and, with a third coconspirator, used a sledgehammer to smash the front door and glass display cases of DSD Sports in Brookville, PA. They stole 16 firearms from the store, including 14 handguns and two assault rifles, which they transported back to Cleveland.

U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for Reginald Patterson on March 3, 2020. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison and a fine of $1,500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and prior criminal history of the defendant.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Lanni, Brendan Conway, and Doug Maloney.

U.S. Attorney Brady commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Brooksville Police Department, and the City of Cleveland Division of Police for the investigation leading to the prosecution of Reginald Patterson.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Cleveland, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to charges of violating federal robbery and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Rayshawn Patterson, 20, pleaded guilty today in front of Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to charges of Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery, Conspiracy to Steal Firearms from a Licensed Firearm Dealer, Theft from a Licensed Firearms Dealer, Possession of Stolen Firearms, and Interstate Transport of Stolen Firearms. Additionally, Rayshawn Patterson accepted responsibility for a separate robbery that occurred in Cleveland, Ohio. Patterson has been detained since his initial appearance in federal court.

According to information presented to the court, in December of 2017, Rayshawn Patterson and other conspirators from the Cleveland, Ohio area conspired to travel to rural areas of Western Pennsylvania to burglarize Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) and transport the stolen firearms back to Cleveland, Ohio. On December 22, 2017, Rayshawn traveled to Clarion County, Pennsylvania to attempt to locate and burglarize a gun store. However, he and his co-conspirators were unsuccessful in doing so. Prior to returning to Cleveland, Rayshawn and his co-conspirators observed a gas station with only one employee working late at night. The individuals then devised a plan to rob that gas station. Rayshawn Patterson participated in a robbery of the gas station in which the employee was threatened with violence, physically restrained and brought to another area of the store. The conspirators netted only approximately $300 from the robbery before returning to Cleveland.

The next day, on December 23, 2017, Rayshawn Patterson and his co-conspirators returned to Western Pennsylvania and burglarized DSD Sports in Brookville, PA by smashing the front door and windows with a sledgehammer and other tools. Once inside the store, Rayshawn and his co-conspirators stole approximately 16 firearms including 14 handguns and two assault rifles. The co-conspirators then transported the firearms back to Cleveland, Ohio. On December 29, 2017, Cleveland Police recovered two of the stolen handguns from DSD outside the home of Rayshawn and his co-conspirators. Later on January 10, 2018, agents from the Pittsburgh and Cleveland divisions of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed search warrants in Cleveland, Ohio at residences connected to Rayshawn and his co-conspirators. Agents recovered the suspected sledgehammer and other tools believed to be used in the burglary.

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for February 18, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Rayshawn Patterson faces a total maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Brookville Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Cleveland Police Department, and the Cuyahoga Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation leading to the guilty plea in this case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

PITTSBURGH - Two siblings from Cleveland, Ohio, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal robbery and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The seven-count indictment, returned on October 16, named the defendants as Rayshawn Patterson, 19, and Reginald Patterson, 21. 

According to the indictment, on December 23, 2017, Rayshawn Patterson and Reginald Patterson conspired to commit and committed a theft of a licensed firearms dealer, DSD Sports, located at 328 B. West Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825, stealing 14 pistols and two assault rifles. On that same date, Rayshawn Patterson and Reginald Patterson are charged with transporting the stolen firearms in interstate commerce. On the previous day, Rayshawn and Reginald Patterson are also charged with conspiring to commit and committing a Hobbs Act Robbery at Fastway Gas, located at 22352 Route 68, Clarion, PA 16214, stealing an amount of United States Currency. In the robbery of Fastway Gas, they are charged with using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Finally, from December 23, 2017 to December 29, 2017, they are charged with possession of the stolen guns from the robbery of DSD Sports.

The defendants face a total maximum sentence of not less than seven years and up to life in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Brookville Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Cleveland Police Department, and the Cuyahoga Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.