Burlington County Men Found Guilty In Tropicana Casino Robbery

On Tuesday three Burlington County men were found guilty of first-degree robbery and other charges after a May 2011 incident in the Tropicana Casino parking garage in Atlantic City, according to a press release from Acting Prosecutor Jim McClain's office.

Brandon Cooper, 22, of Beverly, Leon Peterson, 19, of Lumberton, and Brent Johnson, 22, of Burlington were found guilty of the robbery of Mohammed Sheikh of Freehold, the release said. Johnson and Cooper are also found guilty of the robbery and aggravated sexual assault of a female victim who was with Sheikh, the release said.

The robbery occurred on May 28, 2011. At 4 a.m. of that day the Atlantic City Police Department, after responding to the report of a robbery, found Johnson and Cooper in an elevator, the release said.

Peterson was spotted by security and was also arrested, while Sheikh was found in the hotel bleeding and reported that he had been kicked and punched in the face and head and had been separated from his female friend, the release said.

After less than a day of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all but one count, finding Peterson not guilty in the case of the robbery of the female victim, according to McClain.

Johnson and Cooper were found guilty of two counts of first-degree robbery, weapons offenses, and one count each of first-degree and second-degree aggravated sexual assault.

Peterson was convicted of one count of first-degree robbery and weapons offenses.

All three will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Albert Garafolo on Oct. 1, 2012.