Washington man faces federal charges in robbery
A Washington man wanted for the Feb. 28 armed robbery of EZ Cash Pawn Shop, 110 Highland Ave., Washington, now faces federal charges for the same incident.
Joseph Valentino Monroe, 27, of Shannon Avenue, was arrested March 18 in Ellsworth by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Task Force. Monroe was wanted by Washington police on the charges of robbery, theft and reckless endangerment. He now faces federal charges for brandishing a firearm during a violent crime and obstructing, delaying and affecting interstate commerce by robbery.
Police said Monroe pointed a handgun at the clerk of EZ Cash Pawn Shop around 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and ordered him to open the cash register. Monroe then ordered the clerk to unlock the gun case after unsuccessfully trying to smash it open. He reportedly grabbed eight handguns valued at $3,200 and stole $1,200 from the cash register. He fled on foot toward Lincoln Terrace.
“We worked the case from the onset with Washington police,” said Lou Weiers, acting assistant special agent in charge for the ATF.
“We respond to all federal gun licensee burglaries or robberies,” he explained, because of “the inherent risk of the firearms stolen getting into the community.” The pawnshop is a federal firearms licensee.
Weiers said it is a federal crime to rob a commercial business, and also to rob a federal firearms dealer.
“We worked side by side on the investigation,” said Washington police Chief Chris Luppino. He said federal sentencing standards are stiffer in this case.
Monroe has a lengthy criminal record that includes charges for assault, possession, theft and terroristic threats. The charges against Monroe in the pawnshop robbery will proceed in federal court, Weiers added.
As of Wednesday, four of the eight stolen handguns had been recovered. Anyone with information that may aid in the investigation is asked to call the ATF 24/7 hotline at 1-800-283-4867.
Monroe’s alleged accomplice, Shellisa Chandler, 32, of 140 ½ Prospect Ave., Washington, was arrested by Washington police March 16 on a charge of criminal conspiracy. She remains in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond.