LITTLE ROCK — A former Little Rock Police Department officer convicted of plotting to rob an armored car company has been sentenced to 42 months in prison.
Jason Gilbert, who was found guilty after a December 2011 federal jury trial, was sentenced in Little Rock on Monday before U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes.
Gilbert, former U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs police officer Allen Clark and Antonio Person were tried together and each convicted of plotting a crime that culminated in the Sept. 10, 2007, armed robbery of an Arkansas Armored Car Service guard.
Gilbert, a third-generation officer, addressed Holmes before sentencing, insisting that he had been wrongfully convicted.
"I did not conspire, scheme, plot, plan to rob anybody. At All. Never have," he said. "... That's not me. I didn't do it."
During his brief statement, Gilbert also noted his police service and said that he had never been accused of wrongdoing in his 12 years on the force. Prosecutors then called an investigator with the department's internal affairs unit, who testified Gilbert was at one point accused of possessing a stolen car that was found near his apartment with marijuana in it.
A criminal case was later dismissed, but Holmes took issue with Gilbert claiming he'd never been accused of wrongdoing.
"One thing for sure is he stood up here a few minutes ago and told me something that wasn't true," the judge said before handing down the sentence.
One former coworker addressed the court. Lt. Glenn King, who is the head of the police department's homicide division, said Gilbert is a "good man" who made time to volunteer at the department's youth camp.
"I do see some good in him," King said. "I would ask the court to have mercy on him."
Holmes' prison sentence was ultimately less than the guideline range, which totaled 70 to 87 months based on various factors including criminal history and Gilbert's role as an officer during the conspiracy.
Prosecutors said the conspiracy started when some members of the group attempted to rob the armored car service's Little Rock office in 2005. That heist failed when Mark Davis dropped his gun and fled with Sterling Omar Platt, a former University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences police officer. Prosecutors said Gilbert was monitoring the police radio and would have served as the getaway driver if the robbery had been successful.
Person and another defendant, Eric Owens, were convicted of the 2007 robbery of a guard making a delivery at the US Bank branch in downtown North Little Rock. Owens pleaded guilty in 2009 and was sentenced to supervised release.
Person was sentenced earlier Monday to 12 years in prison while Clark - who was not a police officer when he was accused of participating in the 2005 attempt - was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In a tearful statement to Holmes, Person described his time in jail so far as "torture" and asked for mercy so he could be with his 7-year-old son.
"It's painful to see my family through the glass," Person said. "... I hope you find somewhere in your heart to find some kind of mercy."
Clark didn't speak to the judge, but his older brother urged Holmes to be lenient.
"I know that man. I'm very proud of him," Steven Porch said, gesturing to his brother and speaking in a voice raspy from emotion. "I've seen him do good."
Davis and Platt pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit robbery. Platt was sentenced Monday to 2 years probation while Davis' sentencing hearing was delayed.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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