Spokane Valley man pleads guilty to robberies in four states

A Spokane Valley man pleaded guilty Monday to a string of 13 robberies in four states, taking cash and drugs from pharmacies and other businesses.

Brian James Lindsey, 25, admitted to robbing seven pharmacies in the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane area between Nov. 15, 2014, and Jan. 4 this year, plus a string of previous heists. His guilty plea to 13 counts in federal court could bring him up to 20 years in prison; he’s set for sentencing in October.

Idaho’s U.S. attorney’s office reports that the North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force began focusing its attention on Lindsey after he’d robbed six pharmacies in the area, and worked with the U.S. attorney to obtain a tracker warrant for Lindsey’s vehicle. When he then robbed a Walgreen’s in Idaho, authorities were able to quickly apprehend him.

State, federal and local law enforcement agencies in North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Spokane participated in the investigation.

“As demonstrated by this defendant’s crime spree across four states, prescription drug addiction and abuse can lead to very serious criminal conduct with real victims,” U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson said in a statement. “Each individual who was robbed by Lindsey suffered the threat of harm, and pharmacists in the area were on high alert during the time Lindsey was engaged in his robberies.” 

At Lindsey’s first robbery, at a video store in Minot, North Dakota, he wore black clothing, a knit hat and a fake yarn beard. He handed the clerk a note saying, “I have a gun. Give me money.” He subsequently robbed a gas station, a Pizza Hut and a motel, then began demanding prescription drugs from pharmacies he robbed. At one Albertson’s pharmacy in Spokane, he brandished a knife at a clerk while demanding drugs. At a Shopko pharmacy in Spokane Valley, he brandished a tire iron.

At his final robbery at the Walgreen’s in January, Lindsey jumped over the counter to make his demand of the clerk, according to court records.