Laurel Springs Woman Pleads Guilty to String of Armed Robberies in Gloucester County

A Laurel Springs woman pleaded guilty to a pair of armed robberies over a three-day span in Washington Township in December of 2012, Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton announced Monday night.

Ashley Willis, 28, also pleade guilty to two charges of theft from her sister that same year.

She admitted to attempting to rob a woman at gunpoint in the parking area of a Kohl’s store in Washington Township on Dec. 1, 2012. She demanded the woman’s car keys and purse, but fled without obtaining either item.

She also admitted brandishing a handgun while robbing an employee in a Wendy’s restaurant in Washington Township on Dec. 5. She fled with cash, and was arrested by Washington Township Police a short time later.

Furthermore, she pleaded guilty to obtaining checks belonging to her sister and cashing them for more than $500 in Gloucester Township on July 10, 2012, and obtaining a paycheck in excess of $500 belonging to her sister and cashing it in Runnemede on Nov. 9, 2012.

Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Dianna Reed-Rolando will recommend that Willis be sentenced to eight years in New Jersey State prison for the robberies, and that she be ineligible for parole for 85 percent of the sentence.  On the two theft cases, the sentence recommendation will be three years in state prison, to run concurrently with the robbery term.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 6. Willis remains in jail in default of $100,000 bail.