A resident of Staten Island was found guilty on all charges of an extended indictment following a series of armed assaults and attempted attacks across Staten Island, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. The verdict came as a result of a six-day trial in Brooklyn Federal Court. The prosecution announced the conviction of Tony Clanton, also known by the alias ‘Tone,’ who planned these violent robberies that occurred between January and July 2023.
In a shocking turn of events, Clanton eluded law enforcement subsequent to being indicted by discarding his ankle monitor and taking flight a fortnight prior to the set court appearance. He managed to evade capture for a period of five weeks by outwitting two officers who stopped him, giving false identity paperwork, and even resorting to researching methods of faking his own death online.
Authorities eventually apprehended Clanton and Lawrence Dotson, his associate, following a high-stakes raid made in Huguenot on July 25, 2023. Both individuals had previously been incarcerated for significant durations signifying a notorious history of criminal activities.
The nature of Clanton’s illegal operation was hauntingly cruel and violent. Over six months, his actions left victims of his robberies in New York City and New Jersey in a state of terror, including two children who witnessed their parents being threatened and fired upon.
The relentless work of the law enforcement officers including the FBI and NYPD played a crucial role in tracking this miscreant. The evidence collected against Clanton was strong enough to secure his conviction as they proved to the jurors how he was the mastermind behind the crime wave.
A disturbing scene unfolded in New Brighton where Lawrence Dotson, Clanton’s partner, dressed in a white HAZMAT suit, surprised a man and his young son in the foyer of their apartment building. Dotson threatened the man with a silver revolver while holding a paint can, eventually striking the man with the firearm and discharging a round.
Meanwhile, Clanton seized the man’s keys but was unsuccessful in gaining entry to the apartment. Making their escape in a U-Haul van, their combined efforts in this attempted robbery proved unsuccessful.
In another worrying incident, Clanton led a robbery against an employee of the Annadale Smoke Shop as the latter was closing down for the day. During the incident, while Dotson held up the store, Clanton kept tabs on the police radio scanner, preparing to warn his accomplices of any impending response from law enforcement.
The terrifying control escalated as they restrained the worker using zip ties and threatened him with a firearm. They successfully stole a sum of approximately $4,000 in cash, various cigarette packs, and a certain quantity of marijuana before making their escape.
In a cunning scheme, Clanton pretended to sell his Mercedes-Benz to a prospective buyer. Meanwhile, an unidentified accomplice carried plans to rob the prospective buyer while his teenage son witnessed the horrifying event. However, the intended victim swiftly retreated to his home and barred entry to the accomplice.
On another occasion, Clanton and Dotson targeted the proprietors of a jewelry store located in Edison, New Jersey. Prior to their attempted robbery, the pair had kept the couple under surveillance for over a week, strategizing their plan.
In a bid to appear like law enforcement officers, Clanton procured ‘FBI’ labeled jackets, badges, and hats from an online shopping platform, Amazon. Wearing these during their attempted crime, they tried to force the couple out of their car at gunpoint. When the couple saw through their guise, they quickly drove away and escaped without any harm.
In a final terrifying episode, Clanton and another accomplice ambushed a victim exiting a TD Bank in Brooklyn with a substantial amount of cash. They followed the victim to their residence, and the partner robbed the victim of over $6,000 at gunpoint.
Tony Clanton’s brazen crime wave spread fear throughout several New York City communities. His actions, including holding victims and their children hostage, firing indiscriminately, and even assuming the identity of federal agents were monumental. This conviction puts an end to his violent spree and has reinforced the commitment of law enforcement to ensure justice is served. Looking forward, he faces multiple charges and a mandatory minimum of 25 years, if not a life term in prison.