Westland Man Receives Over Nine-Year Sentence for Armed Robbery of Gardening Store

Westland Man Sentenced to Over Nine Years for Armed Robbery

In a recent turn of events, a Westland man has found himself facing serious consequences for his involvement in a 2020 armed robbery that shook a local gardening store. Andrew Curtis Williams, a 27-year-old resident, has been sentenced to serve more than nine years in federal prison, following a crime that attracted attention from law enforcement and the community alike.

Details of the Crime

On February 10, 2020, Williams conspired with others to rob Albion Hydroponics, a gardening store located in south-central Michigan. The armed robbery took a violent turn when he and his accomplice brandished a firearm during the heist. According to court records, Williams pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to rob the business and brandishing a weapon while committing the robbery. His co-defendant, 28-year-old Kyle Lynn Carson, was reported to have struck the robbery victim with a gun, which made the incident even more alarming. Carson has since pleaded guilty and will be serving five years in prison for his role in the crime.

Sentencing Details

In a court hearing on December 9, Williams was handed down a sentence that not only includes a lengthy prison term but also entails three years of supervised release after his time behind bars. Adding to his troubles, Williams will be required to pay a hefty restitution of $4,096.62 to the victims of his crime. His attorney, Nicholas Voss Dondzila, was unavailable for comments as media requests flooded in following the sentencing.

Ongoing Investigation

As part of the investigation, law enforcement is still actively looking for a third man who participated in the robbery, hinting that this case is far from over. Anyone with information regarding the individual’s whereabouts is encouraged to reach out to the Grand Rapids office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at (616) 301-6100. Getting the message out to the community is crucial as authorities hope to bring all involved parties to justice.

The Bigger Picture

The case against Williams and Carson comes on the heels of other concerning crime trends in the area. Just weeks prior, a man from Detroit faced serious charges for stealing nearly 50 guns from a Dearborn Heights gun store over a two-day crime spree. Moreover, the same individual was implicated in holding employees of an Ann Arbor T-Mobile store at gunpoint during a robbery in 2022. These incidents highlight a troubling spike in violent crimes involving firearms in the region.

Community Response

In a statement from ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir, he didn’t hold back in expressing his concerns about the actions of individuals like Williams. “Mr. William’s greed and actions represent ‘the worst of the worst’ in our community,” Deir stated. His comments underscore a strong message about the consequences of using illegal firearms for violent acts. “In the end, accountability matters,” he added, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the fate of those who choose a similar path.

The Westland community watches closely as the criminal cases unfold, hoping for a reiteration of justice that deters others from following in the footsteps of Williams. After all, the moral of the story remains clear: if you use a weapon for criminal purposes, you should be prepared to “pack your bags for a very long stay in federal prison.”