Two Essex County Men Charged with Seven Gas Station Gunpoint Robberies
NEWARK, N.J. — Two Essex County men are charged with seven gunpoint robberies of gas stations located in different parts of New Jersey in September 2023, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ahmad Singletary, 24, and Joseph Young, 26, both of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; one count of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Singletary is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Singletary and Young each made their initial appearance on Jan. 16, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and were detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On three occasions on Sept. 5, 2023, and four occasions on Sept. 12, 2023, Singletary and Young robbed gas stations in Middlesex, Union and Essex counties. The defendants targeted gas stations on or near highways, used a firearm, committed the robberies in the early morning and performed the robberies in approximately four minutes or less. During the course of four of the robberies, Singletary threatened, assaulted and struck victims in the head with a firearm, causing physical injuries.
The Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence count carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest. Singletary is subject to a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison for the charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Union County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Fritz G. Fragé; the Township of Union Police Department, under the direction of Director Chris Donnelly; the Woodbridge Police Department, under the direction of Director Robert Hubner; and the West Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Abbott, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Douek of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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