January 19, 2022 - SAN FRANCISCO – Lembrent Rubin was sentenced today in United States District Court to 89 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to robbery of a pharmacy and to brandishing a firearm during the robbery, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) San Francisco Field Division Special Agent in Charge Patrick T. Gorman. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Charles R. Breyer.

Rubin, 37, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2021.  In a memorandum filed for the sentencing hearing, the government described the crime of Sunday, October 14, 2018.  That morning, a pharmacist showed up for work at his pharmacy located in a large grocery store in San Francisco.  Rubin was seated alone in the pharmacy’s waiting room.  As the pharmacist opened the pharmacy door with his key, the pharmacist turned his back on Rubin. When the pharmacist turned the key, Rubin forced his way into the pharmacy, pushing the pharmacist until they were both inside and behind the main counter.  Nobody could see in as the shades were shut.  The pharmacist spun around and saw Rubin brandishing a handgun.  Rubin demanded drugs and held a black bag.  The pharmacist opened the locked cabinet where controlled prescriptions were secured.  He began placing bottles of pills into the black bag.  A pharmacy alarm system sounded, and Rubin reached into the cabinet and swept more pill bottles into his bag.  Rubin fled the pharmacy and the grocery store, taking with him several hundred tablets of oxycodone and generic Vicodin, Adderall, and Ritalin.

Approximately two weeks later Rubin was located and arrested.  Officers who arrested him seized a loaded .40 caliber Glock pistol from his waistband.  A search of his apartment turned up more ammunition, including a loaded pistol magazine, and pills with imprints that matched the imprints on pills stolen from the pharmacy.

In addition to imposing the 89 month prison term, United States District Judge Charles R. Breyer sentenced Rubin to a three year term of supervision upon his release from prison.

Rubin was in custody at the sentencing hearing.  He is now being transferred in custody to face firearm and vehicle theft charges filed in Solano County Superior Court which arose from an arrest that followed the arrest in this case.   

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Boome and Sailaja M. Paidipaty prosecuted the case with the assistance of Beth Margen and Ralph Bancshstubbs.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF and the San Francisco Police Department.
Source: DOJ Release