Staten Island ex-con with federal robbery conviction sentenced to return to prison for violent offenses.
A former convict from Staten Island has been convicted of orchestrating a series of armed robberies, including one incident in which he impersonated an FBI agent. The verdict, delivered by a federal jury in Brooklyn, marks a significant turning point in the criminal history of Tony Clanton, 51, who has an established record of violent crimes dating back to 1997.
Clanton’s criminal career has been punctuated by various offenses, including a notable incident in which he attempted to shoot an undercover U.S. Marshal during a staged gun buy in 1997. Following this event, Clanton served approximately three years in prison, later enduring an 11-year sentence for a series of home invasion robberies committed in 2007 and 2008. During those robberies, he was known to display a fake DEA badge to intimidate victims.
In 2023, Clanton re-entered the criminal world, this time collaborating with an accomplice, Lawrence Dotson, a fellow ex-con who had previously served over 26 years for murder. Dotson, who is currently cooperating with federal authorities, testified against Clanton during the trial. Over a six-month period, the duo engaged in a series of violent crimes across New York City and New Jersey, which left many victims deeply traumatized, including children who were present during the assaults.
The spree commenced on January 20, 2023, when Clanton targeted Vernon Fields, a fellow worker in the construction industry. While Fields was returning home with his 10-year-old son, Dotson, disguised as a painter, brandished a loaded revolver and threatened Fields, leading to a chaotic robbery where shots were fired. The two assailants fled the scene after realizing Fields was on the phone with his girlfriend.
On June 3, 2023, Clanton orchestrated a ,000 robbery at a smoke shop in Staten Island’s Annadale neighborhood, during which the owner was bound with zip ties. Less than a month later, Clanton and Dotson attempted to rob a prospective car buyer who was accompanied by his teenage son and later donned fake FBI attire in a failed attempt to rob a jewelry store in Edison, New Jersey.
On July 12, 2023, Clanton was involved in another robbery where a Brooklyn ice cream shop owner was held at gunpoint after leaving a bank with ,000 in cash. Following the trial, Clanton was found guilty on five counts of federal robbery-related charges, which could result in a minimum of 25 years up to life in prison.
His lawyer, Susan Kellman, sought to undermine Dotson’s credibility, questioning the motivations behind his cooperation with the government. Clanton is scheduled for sentencing on July 31, which could mark the end of his criminal career. Observers remain attentive to the impact of his actions on the victims and the surrounding communities that faced heightened fears during his crime spree.
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