LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the Department of Justice.
Scott Carpenter, Jr., 46, Lakeland, committed at least 13 commercial armed robberies between August 2018 and August 2021, victimizing businesses in Lakeland, Auburndale, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Brandon, Zephyrhills, Gibsonton, and Temple Terrace.
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All but one of the robberies victimized Dollar Tree store employees and followed the same pattern.
Officials say Carpenter dressed in all black waited for the targeted Dollar Tree store to close for the night.
Then, as the store employee carrying the day’s proceeds either walked to his/her car in the store parking lot, or after the store employee drove to a nearby bank and prepared to drop the proceeds into the night deposit box, Carpenter jumped out, accosted the store employee, brandished a gun, threatened the store employee, and demanded that the employee surrender the money.