Man draws prison for armed robberies
NORRISTOWN >> For what prosecutors called crimes of “violence and greed,” a Philadelphia man faces more than two decades in prison for his role in two armed robberies and an attempted kidnapping at a Norristown used car dealership.
Damon Robert Murphy, 33, of the 2100 block of North 32nd Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 28 to 56 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault in connection with incidents that occurred between April and July 2018 at the El Camino Motors used car dealership in the 700 block of East Main Street in Norristown.
“He is at the center of this corrupt organization. This is a crime of violence and greed, motivated by a desire to steal money,” said county Assistant District Attorney Matthew Brittenburg, who along with co-prosecutor Roderick Fancher argued for a lengthy prison term against Murphy.
The sentence was imposed by Judge Wendy G. Rothstein.
“You menaced the victim. You also showed no remorse for your actions. I find you pose a continued risk to the public,” Rothstein addressed Murphy.
Murphy, who was represented by defense lawyer David Lehman, did not address the judge before learning his fate.
“I want to preserve my rights for an appeal,” said Murphy, who tried at the last minute to withdraw his previous guilty plea but was denied by the judge who found it was made knowingly and voluntarily.
Murphy was one of five people from Norristown and Philadelphia accused of conspiring in the two armed robberies and attempted kidnapping at the dealership, robberies that netted the culprits nearly $10,000 in cash and numerous vehicle titles.
With the charges, authorities alleged the five defendants “operated within a corrupt organization that orchestrated two armed robberies.” The first armed robbery occurred about 8 p.m. April 30, 2018, and the second occurred about 6:40 p.m. July 18, 2018.
Members of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Violent Crime Unit used wiretaps, surveillance footage and cellphone analysis to link the defendants to the crimes.
Detective Mark Minzola testified authorities obtained video surveillance from the El Camino dealership and he narrated the events as the video footage was shown to the judge during Murphy’s sentencing hearing. Murphy, according to the videotape, positioned a sport utility vehicle in front of the dealership during the July 18 robbery, tried to assist others in forcing an employee of the dealership into the vehicle, punched the victim and then drove the suspects from the scene.
In a letter to the judge, the victim said he “felt utter terror” as some of the men pointed guns at him and then tried to force him into the SUV during the unsuccessful kidnap attempt.
Another man, Calvin Berkins, 30, of the 200 block of Nassau Place, Norristown, was sentenced on Tuesday to 7 to 14 years in prison for participating in the incident.
Several others also pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with one or both incidents.
Theophilus Berry, 33, of North 59th Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison. Charlie Franco, 31, of B Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 15¾ to 31½ years in prison.
Eric Santana, 36, of Bennington Street, Philadelphia, is awaiting sentencing.
Authorities alleged that two unidentified Hispanic women conspired with others during the first robbery in April. Detectives alleged the women utilized the ruse of posing as prospective buyers of a vehicle in order to distract the victim and facilitate the armed robbery.
Murphy entered the office and pointed a gun at the victim and went through the victim’s pockets and stole his wallet and iPhone, detectives alleged.
“Murphy told the victim not to move or he will kill him,” detectives alleged, adding the victim “was placed in fear for his life if he failed to comply with their demands.”
The three alleged actors left the business with $8,000 cash and about 100 vehicle titles before fleeing in a vehicle westbound on East Main Street, detectives alleged. Surveillance video was not available at the time of the April robbery, testimony revealed.
The same victim was targeted during the second robbery and kidnapping attempt in July. The victim told detectives three males entered the business, including two who pointed guns at him and ordered him to give them his money, detectives alleged.
The two armed males forced the victim to his office, ordered him to open drawers and stole about $1,200 in cash, according to court documents. The three men later walked the victim outside at gunpoint and tried to force him into a waiting 2018 Ford Explorer. However, the victim resisted and while he was punched by some of the actors, he was able to run away and all three robbers fled in the Explorer, which also was occupied by two other people, detectives alleged.
Video surveillance footage from the dealership helped detectives identify Franco, Santana and Berry, right down to the tattoos they sported on their bodies, as the three males who entered the business. Prosecutors alleged Murphy and Berkins were waiting in the SUV outside the business.
Franco and Santana were arrested in Philadelphia on July 24.
A sixth man, Michael Dukes, 28, of the 1400 block of Arch Street, Norristown, was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to victim intimidation and a weapons offense.
Detectives alleged Dukes contacted the victim and tried to convince the victim to go to a preliminary hearing for Santana and Franco and lie about the robbery and attempted kidnapping. An armed Dukes was taken into custody on Aug. 1 when he went to El Camino to meet with the victim, detectives wrote in court papers.
Authorities alleged Berkins was parked near the dealership and was communicating with Dukes, including sending a text message stating, “We need something today,” while Dukes was trying to intimidate the victim to lie in court. When Berkins viewed police move in to arrest Dukes he fled from the area at a high rate of speed in a vehicle, detectives alleged.
After his arrest, Dukes allegedly told detectives that prior to the July 18 robbery he had been sent by others to “scout” the dealership to ascertain when the victim was arriving and departing El Camino Motors.