John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of
Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven
Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that WILLIAM
ROSARIO LOPEZ, 34, of New Haven, and SOLIMAR RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ, 19, of New
Britain, have been charged with federal offenses related to their participation
in the armed robberies of five Connecticut gas stations last month.
Rosario Lopez and Gonzalez were arrested yesterday. Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the defendants were presented in court via
videoconference. Rosario Lopez is
detained and Gonzalez was released on bond.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court:
On March 18, 2020, Rosario Lopez entered the Shell Gas
Station located at 1302 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. Rosario Lopez, wearing a black mask, pointed
a small silver pistol at the store employee, grabbed him by the collar,
directed him to walk to the cash register, and struck him in the back of the
head as they were walking to the cash register.
The employee opened the cash register and handed Rosario Lopez
approximately $1,188. Rosario Lopez
ordered the employee to lay on the floor and then fled the store.
On March 22, 2020, at approximately 10 p.m., Rosario Lopez
entered the Fleet Gas Station located at 1611 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in
Southington. Rosario Lopez, wearing a
surgical-type mask, pointed a silver pistol at the store employee and demanded
money. After the employee provided
Rosario Lopez with approximately $200, Rosario Lopez said, “Give me everything
else.” The employee explained that all
of the money was already in the safe and he did not know the combination. Rosario Lopez kicked the employee, ordered
him to lay on the floor and then fled the store.
On March 22, 2020, approximately one hour after the
Southington robbery, Rosario Lopez entered the Shell Gas Station located at 883
Hamilton Avenue in Waterbury. Rosario
Lopez, wearing a surgical-type mask, pointed a small silver pistol at the store
employee and demanded money. The
employee opened the cash register and provided approximately $500 to Rosario
Lopez. Rosario Lopez ordered the
employee to lay on the floor and then fled the store.
On March 23, 2020, less than two hours after the Waterbury
robbery, Rosario Lopez entered the Shell Gas Station located at 696 Main Street
in Ansonia. Rosario Lopez, wearing a
surgical-type mask, pointed a small silver pistol at the store employee,
demanded money and threatened to shoot the employee. After the employee was unable to open the
cash register quickly, Rosario Lopez fired one round in the direction of
employee and then fled. The employee was
not struck by the projectile.
On March 26, 2020, Rosario Lopez entered the Citgo Gas
Station located at 788 West Main Street in New Britain. Rosario Lopez, wearing a surgical-type mask,
waited for another customer to leave the store, approached the counter, pointed
a small silver pistol at the store employee and demanded money. The employee opened the cash register and
Rosario Lopez took approximately $250 from the register drawer. Rosario then fled the store.
It is alleged that Gonzalez acted as a “lookout” in at least
two of the robberies, and she is depicted on store video surveillance just
prior to the robberies that occurred in Vernon and Waterbury.
In association with the arrests of Rosario Lopez and
Gonzalez, investigators searched a vehicle used by the defendants during the
alleged robberies and recovered a silver .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol and
14 rounds of ammunition.
It is also alleged that Rosario Lopez’s criminal history
includes convictions in New York for attempted murder and criminal possession
of a weapon, and convictions in Puerto Rico for importation and unlawful
possession of a firearm, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault with a
firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, threatening a witness, and
aggravated robbery.
The federal criminal complaints charge Rosario Lopez and
Gonzalez with Hobbs Act Robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery,
offenses that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each
count. If Rosario Lopez is convicted of
brandishing a firearm during a robbery, he faces a mandatory minimum term of
imprisonment of seven years, and if he is convicted of discharging a firearm
during the Ansonia robbery, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment
of 10 years.
Rosario Lopez is also charged with possession of a firearm
by a previously convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment
of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a
charge and is not evidence of guilt.
Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Vernon, Southington,
Waterbury, Ansonia, New Britain, New Haven and Guilford Police
Departments. The case is being
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Doherty.
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