NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was
sentenced today to 216 months in prison for robbing a Newark jewelry store and
then stealing a car at gunpoint immediately afterwards, U.S. Attorney Craig
Carpenito announced.
Orlando Nieves-Velez, 30, of Newark, previously pleaded
guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an indictment charging
him with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of carjacking, and one count
of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Cecchi imposed
the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
On Dec. 1, 2016, Nieves-Velez robbed a jewelry store in
Newark while brandishing a firearm. During the robbery, Nieves-Velez pressed a
gun to the back of an employee’s neck and threatened to shoot him if the other
employees didn’t give him jewelry.
After leaving the store with more than $20,000 in jewelry,
Nieves-Velez stepped in front of a 2006 Nissan Altima. Nieves-Velez pointed his
gun at the driver and ordered the driver out of the car. Nieves-Velez fired his
gun into the air before fleeing in the Altima.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced
Nieves-Velez to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay
restitution of $95,000.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen in
Newark, the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan
Mattos in Newark, and the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the
direction of Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation leading to
today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Sammi Malek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense Counsel: Kevin Carlucci Esq., Assistant Federal
Public Defender, Newark
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