AURORA | A gang member who prosecutors say terrorized several people over the course of an April 2016 robbery spree in Aurora and Denver has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Preston Dwayne Larry, 31, pleaded guilty April 28 to attempted first-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years as part of a plea agreement, according to a statement May 30 from the Arapahoe County district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said Larry’s crime spree started April 15, 2016, and included three armed robberies, including one outside of the Roxy Theatre in Denver, where he fired a gun.
After that robbery, prosecutors said Larry held up a cab driver who then took him to Aurora, where he also robbed a couple outside an Aurora apartment.
Police tracked Larry down based on surveillance video — some of which showed his distinctive face tattoos — along with cell phone data from a phone he stole.
“The prosecution of these crimes against innocent victims by a habitual felon and violent gang member was only possible because of the courage of the witnesses and coordinated efforts by (Denver and Aurora police),” Senior Deputy District Attorney Thomas Byrnes, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement.
Prosecutors said Larry has prior felony convictions for drugs, eluding police and weapons offenses.
“This is one guy who clearly should not be on the streets to terrorize innocent victims,” District Attorney George Brauchler said in a statement. “We are glad to work with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer.”