Prison for role in car dealer robbery
NORRISTOWN A Philadelphia man characterized by prosecutors as “a hired gun” or the “muscle” during a brazen armed robbery and attempted kidnapping at a Norristown used car dealership was sent to state prison.
Eric Santana, 36, of Bennington Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 6 to 12 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted kidnapping, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a prohibited weapon and firearms not to be carried without a license in connection with a July 2018 incident at the El Camino Motors used car dealership in the 700 block of East Main Street in Norristown.
“It was a robbery. He had a gun in hand and he was a full participant. It was a brazen, daytime robbery in rush hour traffic. He was there as muscle so to speak. He was a hired gun for the robbery,” alleged Assistant
District Attorney Roderick Fancher
III, who sought state prison time against Santana.
The sentence was imposed by Judge Wendy G. Rothstein. Santana was represented by defense lawyer Anthony Gallo.
With the charges, authorities alleged Santana was one of five defendants who took part in the 6:40 p.m. July 18, 2018, robbery and attempted kidnapping. Prosecutors called it a crime of “violence and greed.”
The victim, who worked at the dealership, told detectives three males entered the business, including two who pointed guns at him and ordered him to give them his money, according to court documents.
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.
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.
Several others involved in the incident previously were sent to state prison.
Theophilus Berry, 33, of North 59th Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison and Charlie Franco, 31, of B Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 15¾ to 31½ years in prison for their roles in the incident.
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 Damon Murphy and Calvin Berkins were waiting in the SUV outside the business.
Murphy, 33, of the 2100 block of North 32nd Street, Philadelphia, previously was sentenced to 28 to 56 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to corrupt organizations and related charges. Murphy, according to surveillance videotape played in court, positioned a sport utility vehicle in front of the dealership during the July 18 robbery, tried to assist others in forcing the employee of the dealership into the vehicle, punched the victim and then drove the suspects from the scene.
Berkins, 30, of the 200 block of Nassau Place, Norristown, previously was sentenced to 7 to 14 years in prison for participating in the incident.
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.
Franco and Santana were arrested in Philadelphia on July 24.
Santana, prosecutors said, was not part of the planning process and cooperated after his arrest. Santana is the last of the participants to be sentenced.
A sixth man, Michael Dukes, 28, of the 1400 block of Arch Street, Norristown, previously 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.
“It was a brazen, daytime robbery in rush hour traffic. He was there as muscle so to speak. He was a hired gun for the robbery.” — Montgomery County Prosecutor Roderick Fancher III