Two Essex County Men Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms in Gas Station Robberies

NEWARK—Two Essex County, New Jersey men who admitted to robbing three gas stations in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Newark on March 8, 2011, were sentenced to prison today, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Abdul Muhammad, 22, of Newark, was sentenced to 228 months in prison, and Lamar Sanders, 24, of Newark, was sentenced to 207 months prison. Both men previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh to Informations charging them with three counts each of Hobbs Act robbery. Judge Cavanaugh imposed the sentences today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On March 8, 2011, Muhammad and Lamar Sanders robbed a Getty gas station and a Delta gas station, both in Newark, and a Lukoil gas station in Elizabeth. Muhammad admitted to taking money from the gas station attendants at the Getty and Delta gas stations and to firing a gun towards the victim of the Getty gas station robbery. Muhammad also admitted to punching the gas station attendant at the Lukoil gas station during the robbery. Sanders admitted to striking the gas station attendants at the Getty and Delta gas stations in the face during the robberies and to threatening the gas station attendant at the Lukoil gas station with a firearm. During the Lukoil robbery, Sanders handed the firearm to Muhammad, who then discharged the weapon, striking the Lukoil employee. Muhammad and Sanders violated the Hobbs Act when they obstructed the movement of articles and commodities in commerce by robbing the employees of the gas station while they were working.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Cavanagh sentenced Muhammad and Sanders each to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dara Aquila Govan of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.