Newark, New Jersey Man Charged with Carjacking and Four Armed Pharmacy Robberies

NEWARK, NJ—A Newark, N.J., man appeared in federal court this afternoon after being charged with robbing four New Jersey pharmacies at gunpoint and carjacking a vehicle, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Reginald H. Ware, 41, a/k/a "Ronell Wilson," a/k/a "Kyiis M. Justice," a/k/a "Kyyiis Justice," is charged by Complaint with four counts of robbery and one count of taking a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation. He was detained following this afternoon's proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp pending a bail hearing scheduled for April 1, 2011.

According to complaints filed in this and a related case:

Ware and separately-charged co-conspirator Rahoo Drew, 31, of Newark, robbed four New Jersey pharmacies: The Wisdom Pharmacy in Jersey City, on July 27, 2010; the Welcome Pharmacy in Jersey City, August 4, 2010; the Americas Pharmacy in Union City, on October 14, 2010; and Carry Drugs in Jersey City, on October 16, 2010. In each robbery, the two men walked into the pharmacies with firearms in hand and ordered everyone to lie on the floor facing down. The victims were threatened with death if they did not comply. After securing the victims inside the pharmacy, the two men seized controlled substances and took cash from the pharmacies and individual victims, as well as jewelry.

On October 12, 2010, Ware carjacked a livery cab driver in New York. Ware and Drew used the carjacked car as the getaway vehicle in the pharmacy robberies committed on October 14, 2010 and October 16, 2010.

Ware and Drew were arrested on November 11 and 9, 2010, respectively, and were held in state custody prior to their appearances in Newark federal court. The case against Drew also remains pending.

The robbery counts with which both men are charged each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The carjacking charge against Ware carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Michael B. Ward in Newark; and the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Edward J. De Fazio, along with the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Comey, for the work leading to the identification and apprehension of the defendant.

The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys José R. Almonte and Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Lisa Mack, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark (for purposes of initial appearance only)