A Garfield Heights man was sentenced on Tuesday to nearly three decades in prison for robbing ten Cleveland-area stores at gunpoint over three weeks.
Lawrence Sturdivant, 36, stole a total of $2,295 in ten robberies, nine in Cleveland and one in Shaker Heights, in December 2021.
U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese sentenced Sturdivant to 29 years and four months in prison and five years of post-release supervision, citing the “immense danger” of the daytime robberies and Sturdivant’s traumatic childhood.
“This is a sad case,” Calabrese remarked. “It’s challenging because of Mr. Sturdivant’s upbringing, IQ, and mental state. I believe the conduct is significant and clearly supports the penalty.”
Calabrese ordered Sturdivant to pay compensation to the stores he looted.
Sturdivant, who had already pleaded guilty to robbery and weapons charges, declined to speak at the court on the advice of his counsel, who stated that he planned to appeal.
All ten robberies occurred in Walgreens or CVS pharmacies and Family Dollar locations throughout the city, including Detroit-Shoreway, Clark-Fulton, Kinsman, and Mount Pleasant. All occurred during the daytime hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including three robberies in two hours the day after Christmas.
During each robbery, he moved about the store, took chips or snacks to the counter, and pretended to pay. When the cash register opened, Sturdivant took out his revolver, intimidated the cashier, and demanded money. He stole less than $300 on each heist.
Prosecutors said he was always “a finger twitch away” from shooting or murdering someone.
Prosecutors claimed Sturdivant attempted to cover up his crimes by reporting that the automobile he used in the robberies had been stolen and throwing his revolver into Lake Erie.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam Joines stated that Sturdivant “terrorized” the 14 people he pointed weapons at during the robberies and that many of them are still suffering the consequences. He stated that one of the robbed employees has quit her work, is on anxiety medication, and is afraid to walk inside stores.
Sturdivant, he claimed, “made a choice of violence against innocent people.”
Joines pushed for a longer sentence, citing Sturdivant’s history of violent offenses.
At the age of 19, Sturdivant was sentenced to three years in jail for various burglaries. Eight months after being freed from jail, he robbed a Subway store at gunpoint and received a seven-year sentence.
Sturdivant began his streak of robberies in December 2021, after being released from prison for around seven months.
Defense attorney Paul Flannery advocated for a 21-year sentence, citing Sturdivant’s “exceptionally horrible” past.
He stated that Sturdivant was born to teenage parents, sustained brain damage at birth, and has a low IQ. He also has mental problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.
He claimed Sturdivant was sexually molested frequently as an 11-year-old, received minimal supervision from his parents or other caregivers, and witnessed drug usage in his home at a young age.
According to Flannery, Sturdivant joined the Heartless Felons street gang while in prison but was eventually permitted to leave after a severe beating ritual that landed him in the hospital. Sturdivant was also shot in 2014.
“I’m not sure if Mr. Sturdivant ever had a chance,” Flannery explained. A Garfield Heights man was sentenced on Tuesday to nearly three decades in prison for robbing ten Cleveland-area stores at gunpoint over three weeks.
Lawrence Sturdivant, 36, stole a total of $2,295 in ten robberies, nine in Cleveland and one in Shaker Heights, in December 2021.
U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese sentenced Sturdivant to 29 years and four months in prison and five years of post-release supervision, citing the “immense danger” of the daytime robberies and Sturdivant’s traumatic childhood.
“This is a sad case,” Calabrese remarked. “It’s challenging because of Mr. Sturdivant’s upbringing, IQ, and mental state. I believe the conduct is significant and clearly supports the penalty.”
Calabrese ordered Sturdivant to pay compensation to the stores he looted.
Sturdivant, who had already pleaded guilty to robbery and weapons charges, declined to speak at the court on the advice of his counsel, who stated that he planned to appeal.
All ten robberies occurred in Walgreens or CVS pharmacies and Family Dollar locations throughout the city, including Detroit-Shoreway, Clark-Fulton, Kinsman, and Mount Pleasant. All occurred during the daytime hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including three robberies in two hours the day after Christmas.
During each robbery, he moved about the store, took chips or snacks to the counter, and pretended to pay. When the cash register opened, Sturdivant took out his revolver, intimidated the cashier, and demanded money. He stole less than $300 on each heist.
Prosecutors said he was always “a finger twitch away” from shooting or murdering someone.
Prosecutors claimed Sturdivant attempted to cover up his crimes by reporting that the automobile he used in the robberies had been stolen and throwing his revolver into Lake Erie.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam Joines stated that Sturdivant “terrorized” the 14 people he pointed weapons at during the robberies and that many of them are still suffering the consequences. He stated that one of the robbed employees has quit her work, is on anxiety medication, and is afraid to walk inside stores.
Sturdivant, he claimed, “made a choice of violence against innocent people.”
Joines pushed for a longer sentence, citing Sturdivant’s history of violent offenses.
At the age of 19, Sturdivant was sentenced to three years in jail for various burglaries. Eight months after being freed from jail, he robbed a Subway store at gunpoint and received a seven-year sentence.
Sturdivant began his streak of robberies in December 2021, after being released from prison for around seven months.
Defense attorney Paul Flannery advocated for a 21-year sentence, citing Sturdivant’s “exceptionally horrible” past.
He stated that Sturdivant was born to teenage parents, sustained brain damage at birth, and has a low IQ. He also has mental problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.
He claimed Sturdivant was sexually molested frequently as an 11-year-old, received minimal supervision from his parents or other caregivers, and witnessed drug usage in his home at a young age.
According to Flannery, Sturdivant joined the Heartless Felons street gang while in prison but was eventually permitted to leave after a severe beating ritual that landed him in the hospital. Sturdivant was also shot in 2014.
“I’m not sure if Mr. Sturdivant ever had a chance,” Flannery explained.
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