HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — Seven men pleaded guilty Monday to charges stemming from a series of distraction-style robberies targeting truck drivers at rest stops along Pennsylvania highways, avoiding a trial that had been scheduled for this week.

On March 2, 2026, John Black, Wendell Compton, Robert Murphy, Darrell Noel, Robert Chandler, Adam Smith, and Danny Williams each pleaded guilty to five counts of third-degree felony robbery before a Westmoreland County judge, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

According to a joint investigation by the Office of Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police, the group carried out the robberies in April 2023, targeting truckers and other motorists at rest stops along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other highways in Somerset, Westmoreland, and Dauphin counties. The scheme involved telling truckers that someone had won the lottery and would double whatever cash the drivers were carrying in their wallets. When the men were arrested in April 2023, they were reportedly found in possession of $21,000 worth of cash, jewelry, and other items including CB radios and cell phones. No weapons were used and no one was hurt.

Each of the seven men was sentenced to at least three months in prison followed by a period of supervised release.

"This group conspired in a series of brazen robberies that endangered motorists targeted at random," Attorney General Dave Sunday said. "The fine investigative work from our partners with the state police led to these appropriate plea resolutions."

The cases were prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alex Cashman of the Organized Crime Section.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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