NYC Man Gets 23 To Life For Robbing Nassau Jewelry Store

FLORAL PARK, NY — A Brooklyn man was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison today for his role in an armed robbery of a Nassau County jewelry store in 2017, in which he stole more than $80,000 of jewelry.

Justice Brunson, 43, was convicted on Nov. 23, 2021 of two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of second-degree robbery.

“This defendant orchestrated a plan to rob Atelier Jewelers, pointed a gun to the heads of the terrified owner and employees, and ran off with more than $80,000 worth of jewelry,” said Nassau County District Attorney Ann Donnelly. “A jury convicted Justice Brunson on all counts because of the overwhelming evidence in this case, as well as the hard work of our prosecutors and police partners.”

According to Donnelly, on Nov. 10, 2017, Brunson sent a woman into Atelier Jewelers in Floral Park. She said she needed to get a bracelet repaired.

Around 2 p.m. the next day, the woman returned to pick up the bracelet. She was buzzed into the store by employees. She was followed in by Brunson and his partner — Darkel Davis, 35, of Queens — who were wearing masks and gloves. They ordered the employees to the floor at gunpoint, and then made off with more than $80,000 in jewelry.

Brunson was arrested by Nassau County police on Feb. 7, 2018.

Davis was arrested by Nassau police on Jan. 22, 2018. He pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery on Dec. 17, 2018, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Jan. 29, 2019.