Armed serial robber sentenced to 60 years

Northern District of Texas—An armed serial robber and convicted felon who robbed five cash loan businesses across the Fort Worth metroplex was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.

Charles Brownlee, 37, was convicted by a jury in March 2025 for 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. He was sentenced to 720 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, who also ordered him to pay $21,123.47 in restitution. 

According to evidence presented at trial, between May 9 and May 21, 2024, Brownlee robbed at gunpoint five Cash Store businesses in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine. Trying to conceal his identity, Brownlee covered his face with a medical mask and wore different baseball caps and outfits for the robberies. 

“After terrorizing employees at multiple businesses throughout the DFW area, this defendant’s violent crime spree ended because of the stellar work of our law enforcement partners,” acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson said. “The lengthy sentence imposed justly puts this serial felon behind bars for a very long time and serves as a message to others that we will vigorously prosecute those who jeopardize our communities’ safety.”

“The significant sentence received by the defendant is a result of the collaborative efforts of the Longhorn Violent Crimes Task Force to hold a violent, serial robber accountable. This individual committed a series of robberies throughout Tarrant County and strong partnerships with local law enforcement allowed us to stop these acts of violent crime,” FBI Dallas special agent in charge R. Joseph Rothrock said. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to surge resources and fight violent crime in our communities across North Texas.”

Numerous law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, 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. Attorney Eric B. Chen and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted and tried the case.

SOURCE Federal Bureau of Investigations