Two of the three men connected to a string of violent robberies throughout Centre County in 2009 and 2010 were each sentenced to spend decades in prison, according to a release issued by the Office of the Centre County District Attorney.
Maksim Illarionov, 23, of State College, who District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller deemed “the ring leader” of the men, was found guilty of 52 counts including robbery, burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy and simple assault, among other charges. Illarionov was sentenced Friday to 38 years and three months to 77 years and six months in prison — on top of a 15- to 30-year sentence already issued.
Anatoliy Veretnov, 28, of Bellefonte, was found guilty on charges related to multiple armed robberies, criminal conspiracy and kidnapping, among other charges. Veretnov was sentenced Friday to spend 30 years and six months to 60 years and six months in prison.
The third defendant in the case Dmitriy Litvinov, 25, of Bellefonte, asked the judge to continue his sentencing and will be sentenced at a later date.
Alexei Semionov, 30, of Ebensburg, pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced in February to serve anywhere from 36 years and one month to 72 years and two months in a state prison.
In June, when Illarionov, Veretnov and Litvinov were convicted, attorneys representing them said they would be seeking an appeal.
The men that were sentenced Friday were part of a burglary and robbery spree where stolen handguns were brandished along with an AK-47 rifle and an SKS rifle with a bayonet on the end. The events spanned from late 2009 to March 2010 when the men were arrested and charged.
Parks Miller, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement released by her office that she is “pleased” with the sentencing that came down.
