Mississippi man sentenced to prison for armed robbery of CVS Pharmacy in OKC
A drug haze might have led to an armed robbery at a CVS Pharmacy in Oklahoma City.
Charles Lamar Scott, 36, from Mississippi, was sentenced in federal court this month to 25 years in prison for robbing the pharmacy, firing his weapon and possessing a firearm modified to operate as a machine gun.
The CVS Pharmacy at 2412 N Classen Blvd. was robbed in December 2022.
Prosecutors said Scott violently assaulted a CVS employee, forcibly took a handgun from a retired police officer and fired the stolen weapon at the building as he left the pharmacy.
Scott also fired another handgun at law enforcement responding to the robbery. However, no officers were injured in the incident, police said.
More: Mississippi man pleads guilty in Oklahoma City CVS robbery case
The second firearm had been modified with a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch,” which converted the semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic handgun, authorities said.
A police pursuit started north of NW 23 before quickly turning south on Classen Boulevard and ending near NW 14.
A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Scott, charging him with interference with commerce by robbery; using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a machine gun during and in relation to a crime of violence; unlawful possession of a machine gun; and felon in possession of a firearm.
As part of his guilty plea, Scott admitted he used force and violence in order to obtain money from CVS, that he discharged a firearm during and in relation to the robbery, and that he was aware that one of the firearms he possessed had been modified to become a machine gun.
In his sentencing memorandum, Scott’s federal public defender wrote that he had used methamphetamine the morning of the robbery. Scott had never used the drug before, according to his attorney.
Scott went to CVS to buy cigarettes and a phone card.
When a clerk joked about buying cigarettes so early in the day, Scott took offense, got upset and felt paranoia and panic, his attorney said.
Scott, according to his attorney, had a “fuzzy” recollection of the robbery, and watching the surveillance videos was difficult for him and filled him with “tremendous shame and regret.”
“Despite his inability to clearly remember what happened that day, Mr. Scott has taken responsibility for his actions,” his attorney wrote. “He knows that with a single morning he changed his whole life. It is with great sorrow that he comes before this court to account for the harm he caused.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: CVS Pharmacy robbery in OKC leads to 25-year sentence for MS man
