Defendants Convicted of Attacking Roswell Family

The last of three defendants charged in the brutal home invasion of a Roswell family has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison, plus 20 years.

Jurors returned guilty verdicts late Monday against 32-year old Rueben Allen of Sandy Springs on charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and battery. He was immediately sentenced to life in prison, plus twenty years.

Allen was one of two men who targeted a well-known pawn shop owner outside of his Horseshoe Bend home on Jan. 8, 2009. The man was ambushed and pistol-whipped as he exited his garage to walk his dogs. The men then stormed the victim’s home where they forced the man’s wife to open the safe. The assailants bound the woman with zip-ties then held a gun to the couples’ 11-year old son’s head. The attackers also choked and threatened the victims’ 14-year-old daughter before she was able to break free and call police. The gunmen fled the scene with money from the home. 

Allen turned himself into police a month later.

His accomplice, James Marino, 28, was arrested following broadcasts of his sketch shortly after the attack. Marino pleaded guilty to all counts in July 2009. He was sentenced to 15-years in prison. A third man, James Kaye, 46, was tried and convicted in November 2009 as a party to the crime. While Kaye was not one of the attackers, he masterminded the plot and directed Allen and Marino to attack and steal from the victims. He was sentenced to 20-years in prison.

Allen, who was sentenced immediately following his conviction on Monday, is not eligible for parole.

Similar crimes recently took place in Alpharetta in the and subdivisions. Police are still investigating the cases.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance Russell presided over the case. Senior District Attorney Herbrina Sanders prosecuted the case with assistance from ADA Demone Lee and DA Investigators Johnna Griffin and Natalie Brunner. Detective M. Larkins of the led the initial investigation.