Crime Spree Ends in Forty-Four-Year Sentence

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions against a career criminal whose crime spree included stealing from her health care provider, impersonating a nurse in order to steal a hospital patient’s purse, and robbing an elderly woman at the grocery store. Lea Ann Roberts, 53, was convicted of Aggravated Robbery, Impersonating a Licensed Professional, Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card, Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, and three counts of Forgery. Under the terms of the agreement, Roberts must serve forty-four years in prison.

In a plea hearing before Judge Steve Sword, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Keith explained to the Court that on August 18, 2015, Roberts went to an appointment with her health care provider at Cherokee Health. When her provider left her office, Roberts stole the provider’s purse. She then made unauthorized purchases with the victim’s credit card at Wal-Mart, but she was quickly arrested by the Knoxville Police Department. While on bond for that case, on November 8, 2015, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Ingle’s in Farragut where Roberts robbed an eighty-five-year-old woman who was loading groceries into her car. Roberts approached the woman and took her purse by force. During the struggle, the victim fell, breaking her leg and her arm. Twenty minutes later, at Parkwest Medical Center, Roberts entered a patient’s room wearing scrubs and holding a medical chart. She spoke to the patient, manipulated the patient’s IV machine, and then stole the patient’s purse. Additionally, Roberts stole her mother’s checkbook and pawned property belonging to other family members.

“”This brazen career criminal targeted victims who were at their most vulnerable,”” said DA Charme Allen.””She targeted the elderly, the infirm, and those that trusted her most. She earned every day of the lengthy sentence she received.””

Roberts has nine prior felony convictions for Forgery and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.