Robbery added to Facebook gun video charge
A Broward man accused of waving a gun around while singing and dancing on Facebook Live earlier this year is now facing charges he also took part in a cross-dressing jewelry store robbery.
Both crimes were captured on video: One was streamed live on Facebook from Fort Lauderdale on March 20 and the other was recorded by security cameras at the Port St. Lucie store on April 13.
Christopher Brinson was arrested April 21 on a federal charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a gun. He pleaded not guilty and is jailed without bond in Miami while that case is pending.
On Thursday, federal prosecutors filed new criminal charges against Brinson. He’s now accused of robbery and using a gun during a crime of violence: the robbery of LSO Jewelers and Repair on St. Lucie West Boulevard.
If convicted in the Facebook Live case, Brinson would face a maximum punishment of 15 years to life in federal prison. The robbery-related charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years to life in prison.
The investigation started when FBI agents saw the Facebook Live video, which features Brinson and a friend singing and dancing outside a convenience store in the 700 block of Northwest 22nd Road in Fort Lauderdale’s Franklin Park neighborhood.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, which generally investigates allegations of gun possession by convicted felons, took over the Facebook video case April 5. Convicted felons are banned
fromeven touching a gun.
Brinson later acknowledged it was him on the video, whichwas posted publicly on his friend’s Facebook page, but denied that he was brandishing a real gun. He insisted the gun, whichwasnever found, was a realistic-looking replica that did not fire bullets and that he wasn’t breaking the law.
Brinson pointed the gun so close to the cellphone camera that it was clear the weapon was a “genuine Glock pistol” with no inner barrel, according to a ballistics expert quoted in court records.
A judge ordered Brinson detained without bond.
Meanwhile, the ATFwas investigating the jewelry store robbery in Port St. Lucie, which occurred one week before Br in son was arrested in the Facebook case.
Investigators said three men, wearing bright red lipstick, makeup and women’s clothing, walked into the jewelry store and said they were shopping for an engagement ring.
Staff in the store quickly realized the poorly disguised “women” were armed robbers with guns and a walkie-talkie, they told investigators.
The three robbers spent about 10 minutes in the store and grabbed nearly $1 millionworth of jewelry, investigators said. But when an accomplice outside radioed them that police had arrived, the robbers dropped the loot and ran out with just oneRolexwatch.
Jerome Simmons, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, was arrested nearby as he crawled out of a bush, wearing only his underwear. Police said they found a pink sweatshirt and pants, a wig and shoes under a nearby vehicle.
Hardy, 33, also of Fort Lauderdale, was arrested in Orlando after spending nearly a month on the lam, authorities said.
Investigators said that after the robbery he fled to a
nearby house where he kidnapped four adults at gunpoint and forced them to drivehimsouth toFort Lauderdale. The four victims were released, uninjured, after dropping him off, according to court records.
Hardy was linked to the crime by investigators, who said they found his fingerprints in the Port St. Lucie house and on a water bottle he dropped in the Fort Lauderdale parking lot.
The fourth suspect has not been publicly identified.
Simmons has pleaded not guilty to robbery and weapons charges. Hardy has pleaded not guilty to robbery, weapons, carjacking and kidnapping charges.
Brinson is due in court in thenextfewdays to indicate if he will fight the robbery charges.
His trial on the Facebook weapon case is tentatively scheduled for later this monthinMiami. Trial in the robbery case is also tentatively scheduled for later this month in West Palm Beach.