Bristol Man Gets Prison For Robbery Spree

CONNECTICUT — A Bristol resident was sentenced Wednesday to 15 and a half years in prison for a violent string of robberies in 2022.

U.S. District Court Judge Kari A. Dooley imposed the sentence on Lonny Cross, 46, of Bristol, in a proceeding in Bridgeport.

Between Sept. 5 and Oct. 13, 2022, Cross stole more than $58,000 in cash, according to Marc H. Silverman, acting U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.

Cross committed 37 robberies and attempted robberies in that five-week span, according to the government. Gas stations, convenience stores, mini-markets, pharmacies and liquor stores were among the targets.

The businesses were primarily in Connecticut, including in North Branford, Waterbury, Wolcott, Plymouth, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, Wethersfield, Bristol, Southington, Naugatuck, Watertown, Franklin, Norwich, Waterford, Groton, Stonington, Ledyard, Darien, Norwalk, Stratford and Seymour. Cross also robbed a gas station in Port Chester, New York.

In some cases, Cross robbed businesses on the same day and minutes apart, according to prosecutors.

An accomplice, Rebecca Barbera, sometimes entered businesses beforehand, left and then told Cross how many employees and customers were inside, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

During the robberies, Cross frequently displayed a knife or fake firearm while making threatening statements, such as “If you call the police I’ll come back and blow your head off,” prosecutors said. He then stole cash and other valuables.

In some cases, Cross grabbed victims and held a knife to them, officials said. During a robbery in Wethersfield on Sept. 24, 2022, Cross threatened the 12-year-old son of a store owner with a knife and robbed the register. The youth was alone at the counter while his father was in a back office, according to the government.

Investigators searched Cross’ home and vehicle in October 2022, and found clothing consistent with that worn by the robber, heroin, crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia, prosecutors said.

After his arrest, Cross directed Barbera and others to go to a storage unit and dispose of a weapon he had used in the robberies, according to the government.

Cross, who has a prior criminal record for robbery, pleaded guilty in May 2024 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery for the 2022 robbery spree. Barbera pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.