Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon announced today that a 33-year-old Albany man was found guilty of pulling a gun and robbing a maintenance worker.

Brian Briggs was convicted of Robbery in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree following a two-day jury trial in front of the Honorable Thomas Marcelle.

On May 12, 2025, just after 2 p.m., an Albany Housing Authority maintenance worker spotted Briggs inside 45 Central Ave. arguing with his mother as the dispute turned physical. When he attempted to intervene, Briggs pulled a Glock 19 9mm handgun and ordered the man to empty his pockets. Briggs proceeded to steal the man’s phone, keys and a lanyard.

Albany Police were called and Briggs was taken into custody a short distance from the crime scene.

During the trial, Assistance District Attorney Joseph Brucato, Bureau Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, called on seven witnesses, including the victim and police. Briggs, who represented himself during the trial, took the stand and admitted to the crime under cross examination.

He attempted to use an “entrapment” defense and blamed his actions that day on a previous arrest, when he fought with Albany Police during a trespassing call at the same location and suffered minor injuries.

The jury returned guilty verdicts Wednesday on both counts after about an hour of deliberations.

Briggs was remanded to the custody of the Albany County Correctional Facility and will be sentenced on April 6, when he faces up to 40 years in state prison.