ALBION, MI – A Westland man who admitted at gunpoint to taking part in the robbery of a hydroponic farm has been sent to federal prison.
Andrew Curtis Williams, 27, was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison on Monday, Dec. 9, after pleading guilty to the armed robbery of Albion Hydroponics in February 2020, records show.
During the robbery, Williams’ co-defendant, Kyle Lynn Carson, 28, of Jackson, used a firearm to strike an employee before tying up the employee, records show.
Related: Men accused of using a U-Haul truck during a hydroponics robbery
Carson previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the crime, records show.
“Tis the season for gun violence accountability. As such, the upcoming holidays just got a little more joyful. Everyone deserves to feel safe as they try to care for themselves and their families,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Sir. William’s greed and actions represent the worst of the worst in our community. Ultimately, responsibility matters. The moral of this story is simple. If you use an illegal firearm to commit violent acts, you should definitely pack your bags for a very long stay in federal prison.”
There was a third man who took part in the robbery, although he was never identified, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said.
“This crime was extremely dangerous,” Totten said. “No one should fear violence while doing their job. These are serious crimes, and my office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that offenders are held accountable and that our communities are safe from violent crimes.”
Anyone with information on the third person should contact the Grand Rapids Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 616-301-6100.
Williams and Carson, along with other co-conspirators, began plotting to use a U-Haul rental vehicle to rob the hydroponic industry, court records show. The vehicle was used for transportation to and from the scene of the robbery to conceal the men’s identities, records show.
The group left Albion Hydroponics in the U-Haul with the stolen money and merchandise, which they hid in the home of one of the co-conspirators, according to court records. One of the robbers attempted to move the vehicle to another location to avoid detection by police.
Williams and Carson were later identified as suspects and arrested by federal law enforcement on April 27, 2023, in Detroit.
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