Three Essex County men were accused Monday of robbing an Orange pharmacy at gunpoint earlier this year, officials said.
Reginald Ware, 54, Nyiron Williams, 22, and Jamon Crosby, 35, all of Newark, were indicted by a federal grand jury of Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey said in a statement.
The trio drove together to the pharmacy on Jan. 16 and entered the building within minutes of each other while wearing black masks, the office said. Ware and and Williams each showed their guns and demanded money, authorities said. Crosby then came inside, also holding a gun, and the three men all ordered that the employees hand over their cell phones, the U.S. Attorney alleged.
They then took cash and at least 10 bottles of prescription medication, officials said. They ran out of the store toward a parking lot when they noticed police had arrived, federal prosecutors said.
Ware was immediately apprehended in the parking lot while Williams was caught about two blocks away, investigators said. Crosby taken into custody after breaking into a nearby home, they said.
The guns they allegedly used during the robbery were taken by police, authorities said.
Ware now faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for the using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence charge because he was previously convicted of the same crime in 2012 after he robbed four pharmacies in Jersey City and Union City at gunpoint, the office said.
Williams and Crosby face a minimum of seven years in prison if convicted of the charges, authorities said.
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
