NJ Man Indicted For 3 Pharmacy Robberies In Belleville, Oranges – Belleville, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A federal grand jury has indicted a Newark man for his alleged role in three armed robberies at pharmacies in West Orange, Belleville and East Orange, authorities announced last week.

Malik Conley, 27, of Newark, was charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of brandishing firearms in furtherance of the robberies and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors alleged:

“On Oct. 21, 2019, Conley and a conspirator entered a pharmacy in West Orange, New Jersey, while wearing face masks. One of the men entered the pharmacy holding a silver handgun pointed at employees. The men demanded cash from the register as well as prescription medication. Conley and his conspirator fled the pharmacy with stolen medication and cash.”

Prosecutors continued:

“On Dec. 3, 2019, Conley entered a pharmacy in Belleville, New Jersey, while wearing a face covering and pointing a silver gun at employees. He demanded cash from the register as well as prescription medication, and ultimately fled the pharmacy with stolen medication and cash. Law enforcement recovered the firearm believed to be used in this robbery later that day in Conley’s girlfriend’s car.”

Prosecutors concluded:

“On Jan. 13, 2020, Conley and a conspirator entered a pharmacy in East Orange, New Jersey, while both wearing face masks. One of the men entered the pharmacy holding a gun pointed at employees. Both men demanded cash and prescription medication, and ultimately fled the pharmacy with stolen medication and cash. Conley was arrested later that evening with the car keys to the vehicle believed to be used in the East Orange robbery in his pocket. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and recovered prescription medication traceable to the East Orange Pharmacy.”

According to prosecutors, each count of Hobbs Act robbery carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Each count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a bank robbery carries a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com