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Larry Lawton

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Larry Lawton
Lawton speaking during a presentation.
Lawton in 2013
Born
Lawrence Robert Lawton

(1961-10-03) October 3, 1961 (age 62)
North Hempstead, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Incarceration
Criminal statusReleased from the federal prison system on August 24, 2007
Conviction(s)Interfering with the interstate commerce under hobbs act by robbery
Criminal penalty4, 12 year federal imprisonment sentences ran concurrently
Imprisoned atUSP Lewisburg, FTC Oklahoma City, USP Atlanta, FCI Coleman, FCI Jesup, FCI Edgefield, FCI Yazoo and FCI Forrest City
WebsiteOfficial website

Lawrence Robert Lawton (born in October 3, 1961) is an American ex-convict, author, and motivational speaker. Lawton carried out a string of jewelry store robberies until his arrest in 1996. He spent 11 years in prison after release he began a career as a motivational speaker, life coach, and author.[1][2] He founded the Reality Check program to deter at risk youths from a life of crime.[3] He also an advocate for prisoners and prisoner issues.[4]

Early life

Born in North Hempstead, New York on October 3, 1961. Early in his life he was molested by a catholic priest.[5] He was lived in both Bronx and Brooklyn and then joined the Coast Guard.[6] He left the Coast Guard in 1983 and began engaging in such crimes as loan sharking and bookmaking.[7]

Criminal career

He began to rob jewelry stores all along the East Coast of the United States. Lawton later said he was the biggest jewel thief of the 1980's and 90's operating within the United States of America.[3] He also used part of his earnings to purchase an Italian pizza restaurant in North Lauderdale, Florida, which he later burned down in an insurance fraud scam.[5] During his criminal career he owned horses, and a limousine.[7] He was at one point on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.[8] In total, he is reported to have stolen $15 million in total during his criminal career.[5]

In October 1994 in Palm Bay, Florida there was a heist of a jewelry store which took $500,000 worth in gold and gems.[9] At the time it was the biggest single robbery in Palm Bay history. Local police believed there was a connection between this robbery and a robbery that took place on May 1994 in Daytona Beach robbery. Police believed that the string of daylight jewelry store robberies along the east coast of the United States were connected and police then contacted the FBI.[9]

In 1996 there was a robbery of a jeweler in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. The robbers had been there the day before and returned asking about a ring. The robbers drew guns and the store owner was then bound, but managed to break free. The owner grabbed a firearm from the store and fired five shots from a .38-caliber pistol at the robbers as they fled.[10][11] Lawton later said that he used a BB gun during the robbery.[7] Later, another jewelry store in Lower Bucks County became suspicious of a person they believed was casing the place for a future robbery. They reported the car's license plate which showed the owner was Lawton. Lawton was then arrested on December 2, 1996 in Florida and charged with robbery and weapons charges.[12] After being arrested, fingerprint evidence connected Lawton to the October 1994 Palm bay heist and he was charged with that crime as well.[9]

He was offered a three year sentence if he would give up his partners but he refused.[7] He was sentenced for racketeering and robbery and spent 11 years in prison before being released in 2007.[13] He received an additional sentence in 2002 for giving false witness.[7] While in prison, Lawton earned a paralegal degree and became a gang mediator.[7] During his 11 year prison sentence, he was incarcerated in prisons such as Jesup in Georgia, Edgefield in South Carolina, Yazoo City in Mississippi.[7]

Post-release career

After release he went to Palm Bay, Florida and started LL Research and Consulting and met a business partner.[7] He founded the Reality Check program after being released from prison which aims to show teens the consequences of a criminal life.[14][8] Lawton does not hold a degree in child psychology or criminology.[7] High school students can use the time spent in the program towards the 75 hours of community service required for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.[13] The program uses lectures by Lawton as well as DVDs.[15] The program also includes a mentoring program, and an annual golf outing.[16]

Law enforcement officials and judges have supported the program. However, the superintendent of student services at Brevard Public Schools declined to use the program, saying "While the program is well-organized and well-intentioned, it does not follow the scientific evidence-based research guidelines." The program, she says has not demonstrated an effect on reducing drug use or violence among youths.[7]

In 2010, Lawton filmed the pilot for a new reality show based on his work with at-risk youth which he called Lawton's Law.[17] He has also appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and has hosted a local talk radio show.[7] In 2012 Lawton released an autobiography titled Gangster Redemption.[6] In 2013, Lawton was made an honorary police officer by the Lake St. Louis, Missouri Police Department due to his charity work after prison.[18] He has made also made appearances in schools as part of Drug Abuse Resistance Education programs.[8]

He also is an advocate for prisoners and their rights and comments on the justice system.[19][4][6] In 2013, the Brevard county Jail re-introduced chain gangs as a pilot project with the goal to deter crime. Larry Lawton was critical of the move, saying creates a bad image to see people in chains for America, especially to tourists. Instead he proposed a better use of law enforcement resources would be to combat drug addiction because he says it is a "contributing factor" to criminal activity.[2] Other issues he is concerned with include prison conditions as well as post-release debt loads and their influence on unemployed ex-convicts.[20]

References

  1. ^ Laura Smith-Spark and Alexander Felton (July 31, 2013). "Police hunt clues in Cannes jewelry heist; ex-jewel thief says it was a pro job". CNN. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Ford, Andrew (May 2, 2013). "Florida sheriff reintroduces chain gang". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  3. ^ a b Puente, Maria. "Ex-jewel thief says of Kim K's purloined baubles: 'They're gone.'". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  4. ^ a b "Prisoner asks for reduced sentence". FOX Orlando. May 30, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Ben Wolford (April 14, 2013). "Ex-jewel robber seeks redemption through mentoring". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Ford, Andrew (June 28, 2012). "He's been there (prison), he's done that (inspired kids)". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k JEFF SCHWEER (January 23, 2010). "Ex-con gives teenagers dose of prison realities". Tampa Bay Online. Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Wilson, Drew C. "Former prisoner DAREs Havelock students to make good choice". Havelock News. Havelock, North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  9. ^ a b c Decker, Susan (December 30, 1996). "Police get break in Gem Heist". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. A1.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ V. Sabatini, Richard (October 25, 1996). "2 armed men rob Fairless Hills jeweler". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. B2.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Associated Press (October 25, 1996). "Jeweler opens fire on two robbers". The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Seper, Chris (December 10, 1996). "Jeweler helps police nab suspect in Fla". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b Florida Today staff writers (December 10, 2008). "Reality Check participants get added incentive". Florida Today. p. 12.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Ex-Diamond Thief: Here's How $200M Heist Went Down". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  15. ^ "Sheriffs use DVDs for at-risk youth". Florida Today. November 19, 2009. p. A1.
  16. ^ Downs, Megan (August 9, 2009). "Mentoring program scores big with kids" [Justice system uses mentoring]. Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 1B,. {{cite news}}: External link in |trans-title= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ David Berman (May 14, 2010). "Brevard Man pitches own reality show". Florida Today. p. A1.
  18. ^ John Pertzborn (August 16, 2013). "Ex-con Larry Lawton to become an honorary police officer". Fox 2 St. Louis. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  19. ^ "Witness tampering alleged at Casey Anthony trial". FOX Orlando. July 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  20. ^ "Ex-offenders face big debt challenges after prison". Fox Business. August 30, 2010. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2013.

Further reading

  • Lawton, Larry; Golenbock, Peter (2012). Gangster Redemption: How America's Most Notorious Jewel Robber Got Rich, Got Caught, and Got His Life Back on Track. New York: LL Research & Consulting. ISBN 0985408200.


Category: Living people Category:1961 births Category: American autobiographers Category: American crime writers Category: People from Lake St. Louis, Missouri Category: People from North Hempstead, New York Category: People from the Bronx Category: Writers from New York City Category:American YouTubers Category:Prison reformers


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