A convicted felon who authorities said has a long criminal history was sentenced to 620 years in prison on July 17 for his role in a series of violent takeover robberies throughout Los Angeles that started in October 2007.

One of the robberies occurred at Lawry’s The Prime Rib restaurant at 100 N. La Cienega Blvd. on July 11, 2008. The suspect, Alonzo Harris, was convicted last September of 37 felony counts. He was accused of committing 14 robberies at stores, markets and restaurants during a nine-month period.

Harris’ accomplice, Floyd Nelson, 54, was also convicted on three counts stemming from the early morning robbery at Lawry’s restaurant, and was sentenced to 50 years in state prison.

Prosecutors alleged that Nelson and Harris, who also went by the name Felton Bradford, attempted to rob Lawry’s restaurant, but fled when they were unable to get a chef to open a safe. Los Angeles Police Department investigators had the suspects under surveillance at the time, and arrested the men as they attempted to flee.

Deputy District Attorney Jack Garden, with the Crimes Against Peace Officers Section, described Harris as being “extremely violent.” The suspect brandished a gun during every robbery, and pistol-whipped victims during numerous incidents. He also sexually assaulted a female victim during takeover robbery at a grocery store on Dec. 23, 2007, according to the prosecutor.

The robberies occurred over a large area stretching from the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley. The robberies were investigated by the LAPD and the Beverly Hills Police Department.