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11/16/2022 09:03 AMCollaboration by North Branford Police Department (NBPD) detectives with local, state and federal agencies helped bring federal charges against two Bristol residents for numerous violent store robberies across the state, including an attempted robbery in North Branford on September 5.
As previously reported, the Sept. 5 attempted robbery took place at Cumberland Farms, 2090 Foxon Road, and involved a male suspect who held knife held to a female clerk’s throat. The clerk fought off the suspect, who fled. The clerk did not sustain any injuries.
On Wednesday, Nov. 9, NBPD shared a press release from the CT district U.S. Attorney’s Office which announced a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment that day charging Bristol residents Lonny Cross, 44, and Rebecca Barbera, 40, with “...conspiring to commit numerous violent robberies across Connecticut in September and October of this year.” Cross received an additional charge for narcotics distribution.
A statement shared Nov. 9 by NBPD, noted, “We are thankful for the hard work and determination of Detective Deko and Detective Sergeant Lemmons in working this case. Their effort and collaboration with local, state and federal agencies brought this incident to a successful conclusion.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s press release, the state district worked with the FBI (New Haven division), Connecticut State Police and state and local law enforcement agencies to bring charges against Cross and Barbera for the crime spree, which ran from September 5 to October 13. The investigation looked into more than 30 robberies of gas station convenience stores, mini-markets and liquor stores.
As previously reported, on September 5 at 6:25 p.m., NBPD received a 911 call of an attempted robbery at Cumberland Farms. According to NBPD, the clerk reported a white male, armed with a knife, jumped behind the counter and held the knife to her neck, demanding money. After the clerk fought off her attacker, he fled in a dark colored sedan; prior to police arriving at the scene.
In addition to North Branford, robberies allegedly involving Cross and Barbera between Sept. 5 and Oct. 13 took place in Waterbury, Wolcott, Plymouth, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, Wethersfield, Bristol, Southington, Naugatuck, Watertown, Franklin, Norwich, Waterford, Groton City, Stonington, Ledyard, Darien, Norwalk, Stratford and Seymour. Several robberies occurred on the same day.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s press release, a review of store surveillance videos showed “...what appears to be the same suspect, identified as Cross, entering the stores, brandishing a knife or gun, and robbing the stores. Witnesses to several of the robberies reported that they saw the suspect flee in a dark-colored sedan.”
The indictment of the crimes also alleged that “...Cross would travel to a victim-store with Barbera, who would enter the store to determine the number of employees and customers in the store, exit the store, and then report that information to Cross. Cross would then enter the store, display a knife or firearm while threatening employees, and steal cash and other items.”
On Friday, Oct. 14, court-authorized searches of the suspects’ Bristol residence found clothing consistent with descriptions of those worn by suspect in several of the robberies, as well as 54 bags of suspected heroin, a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, and narcotics paraphernalia. A court-authorized search of a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala found 120 bags of suspected heroin, approximately 14 grams of cocaine base (“crack”), and a knit hat matching one described as one worn by the suspect involved in an Oct. 13 robbery.
Cross, who was on state parole at the time of the Oct. 14 search, was arrested on state charges and detained. On Friday, Oct. 28, Barbara was arrested on federal criminal charges and released on a $10,000 bond. Cross and Barbera are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Cross is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin; the charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.