2 convicted in LI, Queens robberies

Two cousins from South Ozone Park were convicted Thursday of masterminding the robberies of the Wyandanch post office and six banks on Long Island and Queens for a total of $57,000.

A federal jury of seven women and five men convicted Sharod Williams, 39, and Travis Walker, 25, after 2 1/2 days of deliberations and a seven-day trial in federal court in Central Islip.

Williams was also convicted separately of robbing a Far Rockaway, Queens, jewelry store of $100,000 worth of jewelry.

Federal prosecutors Lara Treinis Gatz and Thomas Sullivan presented a mass of evidence against Williams and Walker, including videotapes of the robberies, cellphone records placing them near the scenes of most of the crimes as they occurred, and phone communication with members of their crew inside the crime scenes.

Several crew members, hoping for leniency, testified against Williams and Walker.

Prosecutors contended the crew made a number of errors in committing the crimes. In the jewelry store robbery, for example, the criminals took a surveillance videotape of the outside of the store, but left behind surveillance video made inside the store that prosecutors said clearly showed Williams was involved in the robbery and attacked the owner's father, who tried to flee.

Williams' defense attorney, Randi Chavis, and Walker's defense attorney, Glenn Obedin, maintained the government witnesses were concocting false stories to get leniency, and that the phone records only showed that their clients' cellphones were used in the robberies, not that their clients were involved.

Chavis declined to comment; Obedin said he was "disappointed" with the verdict.

Eastern District U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said: "These two cousins ran a family business based on brazen theft and violence. With this verdict, the family that once preyed together will now face justice together."

Testimony at the trial indicated that separate agencies initially investigating different crimes united to build the case against Williams and Walker. Investigating were postal inspectors; agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; NYPD detectives; and the Special Investigations, Major Case and Robbery squads of the Nassau County police.

Williams and Walker face up to life in prison when they are sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt.