Three men pleaded guilty to involvement in a jewelry store robbery and violent kidnapping that happened last year.
William Davis, 27, and Jeffrey Houston, 28, both of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Christopher Gay, 29, of Bronx, New York, have been in custody since their arrest on May 22, 2013. Davis pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence on Monday and Houston and Gay pleaded guilty to identical charges on Dec. 8 and 10, respectively.
At least four masked men wearing gloves broke into a Gravel Street apartment in Meriden at about 9 p.m. on April 11, 2013, binding four people in duct tape and putting pillowcases, towels and jackets over their heads, according to Deirdre M. Daly, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Two of the kidnappers had handguns.
Three of the men forced two victims into one of the residents' cars and drove them to Lenox Jewelers in Fairfield, where they worked. The men stole jewelry, watches and diamonds amounting to $4 million to $5 million, according to Daly.
All three men face as many as 20 years in prison for the robbery charge and then at least seven years for the firearm charge, Daly said. They also could be required to pay as much as $3 million in restitution.
They have also agreed to turn over the stolen gemstones, jewelry, watches and over $127,000 in cash police seized when they were arrested in May. Houston also agreed to "forfeit his vehicle," according to Daly.
Two others have also been charged in the kidnapping and robbery and have an upcoming trial.
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U.S. Marshals, FBI agents and Fairfield and Meriden police are investigating the incident. U.S. Marshals and FBI from New York and Pennsylvania, the York, Allentown and Bethlehem police departments in Pennsylvania and the U.S. Attorney's Office for Eastern Pennsylvania also assisted in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton is prosecuting the case.
