United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

KIDNAPPER SENTENCED TO 72 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DEVON HARRIS, age 21, of New Haven, Connecticut, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen B. Burns in New Haven to 72 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 4, 2003, HARRIS 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 HARRIS' cooperation with the Government in this case, and his mental and emotional condition, Judge Burns departed from the sentencing guidelines and sentenced HARRIS to 36 months of imprisonment on each of the first five counts, to be served concurrently, and a consecutive 36-month term of imprisonment on the sixth count.

When he pleaded guilty, HARRIS admitted that on the evening of December 24, 2002, he, Shemone Gordon 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. HARRIS 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. The group then stole the driver's UPS vest and four packages and drove away.

HARRIS further admitted that he, along with Rose, Gordon 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. HARRIS took one of Lampert's credit cards when he left the motel shortly after Lampert was taken there. In addition, HARRIS admitted that during the kidnapping he possessed an H & R Inc. model 903 .22 caliber revolver. At the time, HARRIS was a previously convicted felon.

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.

HARRIS 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. On June 10, 2004, Shemone Gordon was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment. L.J. was 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. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James J. Finnerty.

CONTACT:

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