An individual identified as Charles Lenard Brownlee, aged 37, was found guilty on March 26, 2025, of multiple armed robberies across five cash loan businesses in Fort Worth metroplex during May 2024. The verdict was announced by Chad E. Meacham, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Brownlee was initially charged in July 2024 before being indicted in August of the same year. The jury, after a trial lasting two-and-a-half days, held Brownlee guilty of a series of charges: Hobbs Act Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act Interference with Commerce by Robbery, five counts involving the use and brandishing of a firearm during crimes of violence, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The trial revealed that from May 9 to May 21, 2024, Brownlee conducted the robberies at various Cash Store outlets in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine. To disguise himself, he wore a medical mask and various baseball caps and clothing during the incidents. Police from multiple departments used surveillance footage to link Brownlee to the crimes, noting his use of the same black Hyundai Santa Fe with a distinctive blue fuzzy steering-wheel cover.
An eyewitness testified about seeing the robber drop a cigarillo and enter a black SUV with a similar steering wheel cover. DNA analysis linked the cigarillo to Brownlee. A member of the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team corroborated the occurrence with evidence placing Brownlee's cell phone at the crime scenes.
Brownlee's co-conspirator and girlfriend admitted collaboration in the Fort Worth and Euless robberies, supporting the crimes by driving Brownlee in the same black Hyundai SUV. She disclosed additional planned targets, including jewelry stores, for which Brownlee acquired a Mini Draco-style firearm.
His arrest soon after the Grapevine incident resulted in the seizure of items used during the robberies, such as a bag, a hat, and two firearms—a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Mini Draco AK-style pistol. Authorities also seized his vehicle, driven at the time by his sister.
Included in the digital evidence were searches on Brownlee's phone for Cash Store locations, potential jewelry store targets, and purchase information for a Mini Draco gun. The jury reviewed video and image evidence showing Brownlee and his accomplice posing with cash and using a Black & Mild cigarillo, similar to that used in one of the robberies.
Brownlee faces a minimum sentence of 35 years, potentially extending to life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2025, overseen by Judge Reed O'Connor, who presided over the trial. His co-conspirator, who pled guilty to conspiracy charges, could face up to 20 years and is due for sentencing on April 8, 2025.
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock emphasized the importance of the ongoing collaborations with local partners to combat violent crime. “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,” Rothrock stated.
Meacham commended the collective efforts of participating law enforcement agencies, which included the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, and police departments from Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Chen and Levi Thomas, with appellate support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon.