An armed serial robber and convicted felon was found guilty of robbing five cash loan businesses across Fort Worth in May 2024, according to a release from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.
On March 26, following a two-and-a-half day trial, a jury convicted Charles Lenard Brownlee of one count of Hobbs Act Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act Interference with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
According to evidence presented at trial, Brownlee went on a spree, robbing five Cash Store businesses in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine between May 9-21. To elude detection, he wore a medical mask and different baseball caps and outfits.
Detectives from the Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine police departments reviewed hours of surveillance footage from nearby businesses and were able to ascertain that Brownlee used the same vehicle—a black Hyundai Santa Fe equipped with a blue fuzzy steering-wheel cover—to drive to and from each of the five robberies.
An eyewitness saw the robber drop a Black & Mild cigarillo as he was running from one of the robberies, and also saw him get into the SUV with the blue fuzzy steering wheel covering. Law enforcement retrieved that cigarillo for DNA testing. The FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team testified that the cellular phones tied to Brownlee placed him at or near each Cash Store location when it was robbed.
For two of the robberies, Brownlee enlisted the help of his girlfriend and co-conspirator, who testified that she and Brownlee conspired to rob the Fort Worth and Euless Cash Stores—driving there together in the black Hyundai SUV and with her serving as the getaway driver. She also testified that after committing these “licks” (robberies), Brownlee planned to target jewelry stores and ultimately obtained a Mini Draco-style firearm to do so, since that gun had more “muscle.”
Shortly after the May 21 Grapevine robbery, Brownlee was arrested, and authorities found a bunch of evidence as well as guns. Brownlee’s cell phone showed he had conducted multiple online searches of and for Cash Stores during the time span of the robbery spree. The jury also saw videos and images from Brownlee’s and his co-conspirator’s phones showing them posing with piles of cash and Brownlee smoking a Black & Mild cigarillo like the one dropped at the Euless robbery.
Brownlee faces a minimum of 35 years and up to life in federal prison. His sentencing date is set for July 11.
His co-conspirator pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. She will be sentenced on April 8.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said in a statement that teamwork makes the dream work, stating "the collaboration with multiple agencies from Tarrant County resulted in a successful guilty verdict and sends a message that we will not tolerate acts of violent crime in our communities.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham praised the joint efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Fort Worth Resident Agency, Grand Prairie Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Euless Police Department, Hurst Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Chen and Levi Thomas prosecuted and tried the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon for the Northern District of Texas provided appellate support.
