SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rodney Whiting, age 24, of Scranton, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to serve seven years in prison for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge in Scranton on February 13, 2016.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Whiting previously pleaded guilty to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Rodney Whiting was one of four individuals, including Kwa’shon Roane, age 24, of Gloucester, Virginia, Tracy Whiting, age 24, of Newport News, Virginia, and Kelvin Robinson, age 24, also of Newport News, Virginia, who were indicted by a grand jury in March 2016, for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge.
Previously, Kwa’shon Roane was sentenced to serve 111 months (9 years and 3 months) in prison by Judge Mannion for charges related to the incident. Kelvin Robinson and Tracy Whiting were each previously sentenced to serve seven years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Scranton Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor Borough and Moosic Borough Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.
This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.
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