Department of Justice

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, New York, Tyrone L. Robinson was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to life imprisonment plus 84 years to run consecutive to the life sentence for murder, seven counts of robbery and attempted robbery of drugs and drug proceeds, seven counts of unlawful use, brandishing and discharge of firearms, and four counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Robinson was convicted by a jury in February 2020 following a four-week trial.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), announced the sentence.

“Robinson’s violent crime spree extended not only to possessing illegal drugs and weapons, and committing home invasions, robberies and murder, but also to threatening to take the life of an innocent 8-year-old child,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s lengthy sentence serves to protect our communities, including our children, while sending a strong message to violent offenders like the defendant that they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for their assistance with the investigation and prosecution.

“Today’s sentence ensures that a serial predator will never be set free to inflict violence within our communities. The reign of terror of Tyrone Robinson is over. Convicted of murder with a firearm, armed robbery, armed assaults, Robinson preyed upon his victims and showed no mercy. We commend the work of the ATF’s Long Island Firearms Task Force and our partners from the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Departments and United States Attorney’s Office for their steadfast commitment to investigating these crimes and to ensuring justice was served,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge DeVito.

Between August 2015 and May 2016, Robinson and his co-conspirators committed multiple armed home invasion robberies of drug dealers in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The victims were pistol-whipped, often times zip-tied, threatened with death and shot. On March 25, 2016, Robinson committed an armed home invasion in Lake Grove and threatened to kill an eight-year-old girl if she did not find money for him. The following night, when Robinson returned to the scene of the Lake Grove home invasion, he dropped his cellphone and it was recovered by police responding to a call from neighbors. The cellphone was logged into Robinson’s online account which he had used to Google search for directions to his targeted locations and for news reports about the crimes he had committed. For example, after a violent robbery attack in Hempstead, Robinson Google searched “man beaten in Hempstead.” During a home invasion robbery by Robinson on May 3, 2016 in Freeport, the victim, Johnathan Isaac, was fatally shot in the back. Shortly after Isaac’s murder and the shooting of another victim in Freeport, Robinson Google searched “two shot Freeport” and watched news reports about the crimes.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Allen Bode and Anthony Bagnuola are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:
TYRONE L. ROBINSON
Age: 35
Bay Shore, New York
E.D.N.Y. Criminal Docket No. 16-545 (S-4)(JMA)