Tag:

Hobbs Act

Serial CVS Thief Who Threatened Pregnant Woman's Belly With Gun In DC Gets Prison Time Serial CVS Thief Who Threatened Pregnant Woman's Belly With Gun In DC Gets Prison Time
Serial CVS Thief Who Threatened Pregnant Woman's Belly With Gun In DC Gets Prison Time A serial robber who targeted CVS locations across DC during a months-long crime spree will spend years in prison, authorities announced. District resident Lonnell Hart, 50, was sentenced to 132 months in prison after pleading guilty last summer to four counts of interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), following a string of thefts that stretched from August 2017 and October 2017. According to court documents, between Aug. 15, 2017, and Oct. 25, 2017, Hart robbed four Washington, DC CVS pharmacies.  During each of those incidents, Hart brandished a loaded gun and po…
19-Year-Old Admits Participating In Armed Robbery Of North Haven Gas Station: Feds 19-Year-Old Admits Participating In Armed Robbery Of North Haven Gas Station: Feds
19-Year-Old Admits Participating In Armed Robbery Of North Haven Gas Station: Feds A 19-year-old man has admitted to his role in the armed robbery of a Connecticut gas station, federal officials announced. New Haven resident Robert Smith, also known as "Robbie," age 19, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Sept. 28 to offenses related to the July 2022 armed robbery of a North Haven gas station, according to the US District's Attorney's Office for District of Connecticut. According to officials, Smith's arrest resulted from an investigation conducted by both the New Haven Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into an armed r…
Repeat Spring Valley Armed Robber Nabbed, Hit With Federal Charges Repeat Spring Valley Armed Robber Nabbed, Hit With Federal Charges
Repeat Spring Valley Armed Robber Nabbed, Hit With Federal Charges A Hudson Valley man who allegedly robbed two businesses with a gun and attempted to rob another has been charged with federal armed robbery. Orange County resident 40-year-old, Adham Mohamed El-Gamal, of Harriman, was arrested on Wednesday, July 12 for the robberies which took place on Monday, July 10 in Rockland County in Spring Valley. According to Spring Valley Police Det. Matt Galli, El-Gamal, wearing a mask, walked into the Next Gas Station at 146 N. Main St., Spring Valley, around 1 a.m. on Monday, pulled out a handgun, and demanded money. The victim complied with his demands and El-…
Federal Jury Convicts NYC Man In $200,000 Shakedown Of Jersey Shore Dad Federal Jury Convicts NYC Man In $200,000 Shakedown Of Jersey Shore Dad
Federal Jury Convicts NYC Man In $200,000 Shakedown Of Jersey Shore Dad Federal jurors in Trenton convicted a Brooklyn man for his role in a plot to strong-arm a Jersey Shore resident into giving him and his accomplices $200,000, authorities said. Endrit Kllogjeri, 27, and his cohorts were tripped up by an undercover detective posing as the Monmouth County victim, federal authorities said. Francis Garzon, 31, took a deal from the government rather than risk the consequences of guaranteed prison time if he was convicted at a trial, pleading guilty last month to his role in the plot. Kllogjeri rolled the dice and lost, however. He, Garzon and an unidentified co…
GUILTY: Parolee Nabbed By Lyndhurst PD Convicted In NJ, NY Liquor, Convenience Store Holdups GUILTY: Parolee Nabbed By Lyndhurst PD Convicted In NJ, NY Liquor, Convenience Store Holdups
Guilty: Parolee Nabbed By Lyndhurst PD Convicted In NJ, NY Liquor, Convenience Store Holdups A Union County parolee who was nabbed by Lyndhurst police after a months-long armed robbery spree of liquor and convenience stores in two states -- including one in which he fired a handgun -- was convicted by federal jurors in Newark of all 10 counts against him. Vincent Chan-Guillen, 32, had just been paroled from state prison after serving three years for drug and weapons convictions when the holdups began in August 2018. He committed nine altogether over the next three months, four of them at liquor stores in New Jersey and five others at establishments in New York, the U.S. District Co…
Violent Robberies: 20-Year-Old From Hartford Admits To Role In String Of AT&T Store Heists Violent Robberies: 20-Year-Old From Hartford Admits To Role In String Of AT&T Store Heists
Violent Robberies: 20-Year-Old From Hartford Admits To Role In String Of AT&T Store Heists A 20-year-old Connecticut man who pleaded guilty to several robberies of AT&T stores in the region where he and three others sometimes beat and pistol-whipped employees was the first of the crew to be sentenced this week.  Hartford County resident Deshawn Baugh of Hartford was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. He must pay $124,842.45 in restitution, the prosecutor said. Baugh, along with three others, went on a robbery spr…
Duo Found Guilty In Connection To Fatal Stamford Jewelry Store Robbery Duo Found Guilty In Connection To Fatal Stamford Jewelry Store Robbery
Duo Found Guilty In Connection To Fatal Stamford Jewelry Store Robbery Two people, including one man from Westchester County, have been found guilty in connection with a jewelry store robbery in Fairfield County that left the business's owner dead. Earlier Report - Westchester Man Charged In Fatal Jewelry Store Robbery In Stamford White Plains resident Thomas Liberatore, age 65, and Brooklyn resident Paul Prosano, age 62, were both found guilty by a jury for their roles in the March 28, 2020 robbery of Marco Jewelers in Stamford, US Attorney Vanessa Avery announced on Monday, Dec. 19.  On the day of the robbery, around 2:50 p.m., police in Stamford …
Yonkers Man Accused Of Gunpoint Kidnapping Sentenced On Weapons Charge Yonkers Man Accused Of Gunpoint Kidnapping Sentenced On Weapons Charge
Yonkers Man Accused Of Gunpoint Kidnapping Sentenced On Weapons Charge A man from Westchester County man once accused of committing a violent gunpoint kidnapping has been sentenced to prison on weapons and robbery charges.  Earlier Report - Westchester Man Accused Of Zip Tying Victim In Gunpoint Kidnapping Yonkers resident Owen Drain, also known as “Whiteboy,” and “Tommy,” was sentenced to seven years in federal prison on Friday, Dec. 2 for brandishing a weapon, according to US District Court documents.  Drain was originally accused of kidnapping a victim at gunpoint in the Bronx on Nov. 19, 2019, and zip-tying his victim while doing …
Yonkers Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old Yonkers Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old
Yonkers Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 21-Year-Old One of two suspects implicated in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man during a drug deal gone wrong in Westchester County will spend decades in federal prison. Yonkers resident Marcus Chambers, age 31, also known as “Chino,” “Chi D,” and “SP,” was sentenced to 20 years behind bars Monday, Oct. 3, in federal court in White Plains. Earlier Report: Westchester Man Admits To Murder Of 21-Year-Old The sentence came months after he pleaded guilty to participating in the murder of Jonathan Johnson on March 18, 2011, in White Plains. On the day of the shooting, Chambers and his co-consp…
2 Men Restrained Female Workers With Zipties To Rob $578K From NJ Check Cashers At Gunpoint: DA 2 Men Restrained Female Workers With Zipties To Rob $578K From NJ Check Cashers At Gunpoint: DA
2 Men Restrained Female Workers With Zipties To Rob $578K From NJ Check Cashers At Gunpoint: DA Two men from New York City were arrested and jailed after they were apparently connected to a series of gunpoint robberies at check cashing services throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania that involved female workers being restrained with zipties, authorities announced. Ramel Harris, 40, and Neville Brown, 38, both of Brooklyn, were charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announce…
Young Ex-Cons Nabbed In Elizabeth Taxi Driver Shooting Charged Federally Young Ex-Cons Nabbed In Elizabeth Taxi Driver Shooting Charged Federally
Young Ex-Cons Nabbed In Elizabeth Taxi Driver Shooting Charged Federally Two ex-cons seized in the shooting of a taxi driver during a late-night robbery in Elizabeth were identified by federal authorities on Tuesday. City police nabbed Naeem Jackson, 22, of East Orange, and Walter Williams-Lang, 20, of Elizabeth, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark took the case because of the government’s ability to secure much harsher penalties than under state law. Both Jackson and Williams-Lang were wearing dark clothing and masks over their faces when they entered the cabbie's minivan shortly after 4:30 a.m., U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Williams-Lang point…
Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide
Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide Three Connecticut men have been charged with committing at least eight robberies of convenience and smoke shops across the state earlier this year. The three were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, June 16 in New Haven County, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Those charged include Steven Galarza, age 24, of Seymour; Efrain Deleon, age 58, and Gilberto Deleon, age 56, both of New Britain, officials said. As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, between February and March, the men, using fake firearms robbed the following retail locat…
Ex-Brewster Cop Admits To Protecting Prostitution Rings In Exchange For Sex Ex-Brewster Cop Admits To Protecting Prostitution Rings In Exchange For Sex
Ex-Brewster Cop Admits To Protecting Prostitution Rings In Exchange For Sex A former police officer in the Hudson Valley has admitted to providing protection to a pair of Queens-based sex trafficking rings in exchange for sexual favors. The ex-cop in Putnam County, Wayne Peiffer, was a member of the Village of Brewster Police Department. He's a resident of the Ulster County hamlet of Highland. The 48-year-old Peiffer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and conspiracy to commit bribery in violation of the Travel Act in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday, April 8.  Peiffer was charged for his role in protecting the two prostitution busin…
Westchester Man Admits To Murder Of 21-Year-Old Westchester Man Admits To Murder Of 21-Year-Old
Westchester Man Admits To Murder Of 21-Year-Old One of two suspects implicated in the murder of a 21-year-old man during a drug deal gone wrong has admitted to his role in a fatal shooting, federal officials announced. Yonkers resident Marcus Chambers, age 30, also known as “Chino,” “Chi D,” and “SP,” pleaded guilty this week to participating in the murder of Jonathan Johnson, 21, on March 18, 2011, in White Plains. Original story - Duo Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old In White Plains According to US Attorney Damian Williams, on the day of the shooting, Chambers and his co-conspirator, Darnell Kidd, murdered Johnson by shooting hi…
Four CT Men Accused Of Committing Violent Robberies At AT&T Stores Four CT Men Accused Of Committing Violent Robberies At AT&T Stores
Four CT Men Accused Of Committing Violent Robberies At AT&T Stores Four men are facing federal charges following a spree of violent robberies at AT&T stores in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, authorities announced. Hartford residents Alex Josephs, age 21, Ronaldo Smith, age 23, Shaquille Raymond, age 23, and Deshawn Baugh, age 19, have been charged following the spree, which included pistol-whipping some employees while threatening others at gunpoint. Acting US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that an investigation by the FBI and local police agencies into a string of armed robberies at AT&T stores led them to identify the four as suspects. Acco…
Newark Barbershop Robber Shot In Face By Off-Duty Officer Headed To Fed Pen Newark Barbershop Robber Shot In Face By Off-Duty Officer Headed To Fed Pen
Newark Barbershop Robber Shot In Face By Off-Duty Officer Headed To Fed Pen Philip Hedgespeth picked the wrong barbershop to rob when the man in the chair turned out to be an off-duty Newark police officer who shot him in the face. Now the ex-con is headed back behind bars -- only this time it's for a federal stretch of more than nine years. Hedgespeth, 45, must serve out the entire plea-bargained sentence: Unlike in the state prison system, federal convicts don’t get parole. Hedgespeth was wearing a hoodie when he walked into the Cache Barbershop on Orange Street, pointed a handgun and demanded cash from an employee and off-duty city officer getting a haircut on…
Hudson Valley Man Charged In Home Invasion, Gas Station Armed Robberies, Police Say Hudson Valley Man Charged In Home Invasion, Gas Station Armed Robberies, Police Say
Hudson Valley Man Charged In Home Invasion, Gas Station Armed Robberies, Police Say A 20-year-old man has been charged for his participation in a string of armed home invasion and gas station robberies. Orange County resident Tishaawn Woods, of Newburgh, was apprehended in Orange, New Jersey, on Thursday, April 8, and charged with the crimes that took place in around the city of Newburgh, said Audrey Strauss, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to the allegations in the complaint in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 17, Woods and an accomplice armed with handguns, burst inside an apartment in Newburgh, where they robbed and sho…
Long Island Felon Sentenced For Violent Crime Spree Long Island Felon Sentenced For Violent Crime Spree
Long Island Felon Sentenced For Violent Crime Spree A convicted felon is heading back to prison after being sentenced for nearly fatally shooting a marijuana trafficker on Long Island. Westbury resident Spencer Jean was sentenced this week to 35 years in prison for Hobbs Act robbery of a marijuana trafficker, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice for a shooting two years ago. Jean, 34, was found guilty following a trial in July last year. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that on March 20, 2018, in Middle Island, Jean robbed $1,500 worth of marijuana from a drug dealer he had met at a halfway hou…
Ex-Con Charged In Gunpoint Essex Drugstore Robbery Spree Ex-Con Charged In Gunpoint Essex Drugstore Robbery Spree
Ex-Con Charged In Gunpoint Essex Drugstore Robbery Spree Key pieces of evidence led to federal charges against an ex-con for robbing pharmacies in Belleville, East Orange and West Orange at gunpoint, authorities said Wednesday. Police recovered a gun in his girlfriend’s car that Malik Conley, 27, of Newark, used in the second holdup last December in Belleville, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Conley and an accomplice struck again a month later, this time in East Orange, Carpenito said, adding that keys to the vehicle used in that robbery were found in his pocket. Conley apparently acted alone in the Dec. 3 robbery in Belleville, an indictmen…
Masked NJ Barbershop Robber Who Held Gun To Boy's Head Takes Plea Masked NJ Barbershop Robber Who Held Gun To Boy's Head Takes Plea
Masked NJ Barbershop Robber Who Held Gun To Boy's Head Takes Plea A convicted armed robber had been out of state prison barely a month when he grabbed a boy at a Camden barbershop last year, put a gun to his head and forced employees and customers to empty cash and belongings into a bag. Benjamin Daye, 34, pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges in exchange for what he hopes will be leniency at sentencing, admitting that he grabbed the child in a headlock, forced everyone to the floor and fled with $754 and a customer’s wallet. Daye was wearing a mask when he entered the Federal Street shop in the middle of the afternoon on Nov. 23, 2019, put the gun …
Man Pleads Guilty To 7-Stop Crime Spree, Carjacking Man Pleads Guilty To 7-Stop Crime Spree, Carjacking
Man Pleads Guilty To 7-Stop Crime Spree, Carjacking The man who stuck a gun into a woman’s neck carjacked her vehicle and went on a crime spree has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Arno Smith, 57, of Hartford, pleaded guilty to one charge of a Hobbs Act robbery, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut, said. Hobbs applies in instances of interstate or foreign attempted or real robbery. Between the time of the carjacking and his arrest, Smith robbed 7 places including grocery stores, rental facilities, retailers, and an inn, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. The carjacking took place on July 26 around 11 p.m. in a Har…
Duo Charged In Armed Robbery At Aqueduct Racetrack Duo Charged In Armed Robbery At Aqueduct Racetrack
Duo Charged In Armed Robbery At Aqueduct Racetrack An Aqueduct Racetrack security guard acting as an “inside man” and a co-conspirator are facing charges for an alleged armed heist of more than $280,000, according to federal officials. It is alleged that Lafayette Morrison, a security guard at the track, alerted his friend Lamel Miller, both Queens residents, when and where cash would be taken to a vault following “Gotham Day” races at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, March 7. U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that at approximately 9:45 p.m. on the day of the races, Miller and a third man held up several racetrack employees, including Morr…
Man Who Robbed Orange Phone Store While Wearing Wig Sentenced Man Who Robbed Orange Phone Store While Wearing Wig Sentenced
Man Who Robbed Orange Phone Store While Wearing Wig Sentenced An Ohio man who once took part in a violent criminal spree in Essex County in the early 1990s was sentenced to 300 months in prison for robbing a mobile phone store in Orange, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said.  Frederick White, 47, had earlier pleaded guilty to robbery under the federal Hobbs Act as well as brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  On June 11, 2016, White walked into the store and demanded cash from an employee at gunpoint. White, who was wearing a wig, ran off with the money but was captured by Orange police shortly afterwards.  Wh…
Man Admits To Stabbing Gas Station Attendant In Robbery Man Admits To Stabbing Gas Station Attendant In Robbery
Man Admits To Stabbing Gas Station Attendant In Robbery A Connecticut man who stabbed a gas station employee in the back during a string of armed robberies pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge. New Haven resident Vinson Singleton, Jr., 25, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. He will face up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 28 next year. According to U.S. Attorney John Durham, at sentencing, the government will argue that Singleton also robbed or attempted to rob a Dunkin Donuts in New Haven on March 8, 2016; a Valero in North Haven on March 9, 2016; a Papa John’s in New Haven on Ma…
Kenilworth Man Forced Business Owner To Take Bad Check At Gunpoint: Feds Kenilworth Man Forced Business Owner To Take Bad Check At Gunpoint: Feds
Kenilworth Man Forced Business Owner To Take Bad Check At Gunpoint: Feds A 29-year-old Kenilworth man who is accused of running credit card scams to finance a high-flying lifestyle faces a number of additional federal charges for allegedly forcing the owner of an online business to take a bad check and then pay him the amount in cash, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey said Tuesday.  Raymond Scura wrote at least one bad check to the business owner in February. When the owner demanded cash instead, Scura drove with him to a bank, where he pulled a gun. Scura then forced the business owner to provide him with his ATM PIN, punched in the number and deposited the …