Westland Man Pleads Guilty To Armed Robbery Of Albion Hydroponics

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="ECC5B75A17664183BC13F82EAA86FFCC" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem datavalue="GRAND RAPIDS" listvalue="GRAND RAPIDS"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="KALAMAZOO" listvalue="KALAMAZOO"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="MARQUETTE" listvalue="MARQUETTE"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="LANSING" listvalue="LANSING"> GRAND RAPIDS - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Andrew Curtis Williams, 27, of Westland, Michigan pleaded guilty to two separate offenses relating to his role in the February 2020 armed robbery of Albion Hydroponics. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years up to a maximum term of life imprisonment.

"This crime was brazen and incredibly dangerous," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "No business owner or employee should fear violence at work. Accountability for these crimes will be swift and serious."

According to court documents, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiring to rob Albion Hydroponics on February 10, 2020. Williams also pleaded guilty to the separate offense of brandishing a firearm while committing the robbery. During the robbery, Williams was present while his companion used a firearm to strike the victim of the robbery with a gun. His codefendant, Kyle Lynn Carson, 28, of Jackson, previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

In March 2023, Williams and Carson were indicted for participating in the armed robbery of Albion Hydroponics. The indictment included the following charges:

• Count 1 - Charged Carson and Williams with Conspiracy to Obstruct Interstate Commerce by Robbery. The maximum sentence for this crime is 20 years.
  
• Count 2 - Charged Williams with Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery. The maximum sentence for this crime is 20 years.
  
• Count 3 - Charged Williams with Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. The minimum sentence for this crime is 7 years, to run consecutive to any other sentence for imprisonment. The maximum sentence is life in prison.

Carson pleaded guilty to this offense on September 25, 2023, and admitted that he helped Williams scout the hydroponics store before the robbery, then took custody of a van containing the stolen property and attempted to hide it from police after the robbery.

"During this incident, Williams idly stood by while he and his partner in crime used illegal firearms to beat and intimidate a member of our community with the intent to rob the business," said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. "Every business owner and their employees deserve to go to work in peace without the threat of gun violence. In the end, Williams' poor choices have consequences. In short, if you choose to use an illegal firearm to threaten and/or beat members of our community - you should choose to pack a bag because you'll be going to prison. Our community demands better from its members, and it is safer with both men off the streets."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey is prosecuting it.

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