United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

LAMPERT KIDNAPPER SENTENCED TO 108 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHEMONE GORDON, age 24, formerly of of 35 Kossuth Street, New Haven, Connecticut, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen B. Burns in New Haven to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in the December 24, 2002, robbery of a United Parcel Service truck in New Haven and the January 10, 2003, kidnapping of Edward S. Lampert.

On March 6, 2003, GORDON pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce, two counts of interference with interstate commerce, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of carrying a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. Noting GORDON's "exceptional degree of cooperation" with the Government in this case, Judge Burns departed from the sentencing guidelines and sentenced GORDON to 48 months of imprisonment on each of the first five counts, to be served concurrently, and a mandatory consecutive 60-month term of imprisonment on the sixth count.

When he pleaded guilty, GORDON admitted that on the evening of December 24, 2002, he, Devon Harris and a juvenile known as "L.J.," robbed a UPS truck in the New Haven area while Renaldo Rose waited for them in a car. GORDON admitted that they bound the driver with a flexible plastic restraint, placed a hood over his head and forced him onto his stomach in the cargo area of the truck. Their plan to steal the truck was foiled when they could not find the keys. GORDON admitted that the group stole the driver's UPS vest and four packages and drove away. GORDON further admitted that he, along with Rose, Harris and L.J., participated in the January 10, 2003, abduction of Edward Lampert at his business office in Greenwich. Lampert was held at a Hamden motel, handcuffed and blindfolded in the bathroom until he was released on January 12, 2003. Additionally, GORDON admitted that during the kidnapping he possessed a Mossberg .410 caliber shotgun. GORDON previously was convicted in state court of selling and possessing narcotics.

As disclosed in previous court proceedings, Lampert was ultimately released by the kidnappers in exchange for a promise to leave approximately $40,000 in cash for the abductors several days later in a trash can in a Wendy's restaurant in Greenwich. After Lampert's release, Rose telephoned another individual in New Haven on January 18, 2003, and asked that individual to retrieve the money. The individual declined.

GORDON was arrested on January 13, 2003, and has been detained since his arrest. On May 17, 2004, Judge Burns sentenced ROSE to 181 months of imprisonment. Devon Harris, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2003, and currently awaits sentencing. L.J. is being prosecuted in state court.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Greenwich, New Haven, Hamden, and East Haven police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James J. Finnerty.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov