Teamwork between multiple police departments led to the February arrest of two 19-year-old men suspected in a string of robberies that plagued three counties from late 2011 into early 2012.
The federal government is now joining in, announcing Wednesday that it will prosecute the alleged convenience store bandits who are suspected in an armed robbery spree that crossed Schuylkill, Luzerne and Carbon counties.
Officers from multiple police departments captured Tysheed "Sincere" Hargrove and Jose "Skillz" Nunez, both 19 and formerly of Newark, N.J., but living periodically in the Hazleton area, after a chase began in Tamaqua and ended in Nesquehoning on Feb. 5.
Peter J. Smith, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, said during a news conference Wednesday that both would face multiple years in a state prison if convicted of the crimes on which a federal grand jury in Scranton indicted them Aug. 28.
Hargrove was indicted on 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, and one count of brandishing a firearm. Nunez was indicted with aiding and abetting Hargrove in seven robberies, along with one count of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm.
Each of the robbery charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a three-year term of supervised release, Smith said. The charge for the firearm is also "serious" and carries a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years, consecutive to any other sentence, he said.
As a result of the federal charges, prosecutors will likely withdraw some duplicate charges filed by local police, Bob O'Hara, assistant U.S. attorney stationed in Scranton, said during the press conference.
Smith said federal prosecutors sought the indictment against Hargrove and Nunez for several reasons. The federal statutes, which are "very strong," mandate the men spend almost their entire sentence in prison without parole if convicted, he said.
Also, the alleged crimes were committed in multiple jurisdictions - McAdoo, Tamaqua and Hometown in Schuylkill County; Hazleton, Hazle Township and Foster Township in Luzerne County; and Kidder Township in Carbon County - so it makes sense to have the men face all the charges against them at one time, Smith said.
Hazleton police Chief Frank DeAndrea said the federal charges free up local police to investigate other crimes. The chief was among about 17 other people, including police officers involved in the case and officials from the Luzerne, Carbon and Schuylkill district attorney's offices, who flanked Smith during the press conference.
Smith called the crimes "brazen," "alarming" and "reckless," noting a gun was pointed in the clerk's face in each of the 11 robberies.
The 11-count indictment states Hargrove and Nunez used threats and intimidation in the robberies to get money and products from the stores for a motive that Smith would not identify. Hargrove told reporters during his arraignment in February for the Jan. 29 Wawa robbery in Kidder Township that he committed the acts for "personal reasons."
Smith said the case is a fine example of how local, state and federal agencies can work together to get an arrest.
"It's the only way to deal with this kind of problem," he said, noting that a concerted effort will stymie people coming to the area from bigger cities to commit crime.
Smith thanked those involved in the investigation, including local police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and the district attorney's offices in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties.
Smith said the quick action of Tamaqua police and communication between departments led to the arrests Feb. 5.
Tamaqua police Officer Robert Minnick recalled at the news conference how he was on patrol that day and noticed a vehicle with an improperly displayed registration plate.
The vehicle, a silver Ford Mustang, matched the description of the vehicle involved in other robberies. Minnick remembered the description because he also works as a part-time police officer in McAdoo, where Fegley's was robbed Jan. 26.
Minnick tried to stop the vehicle on Center Street in Tamaqua, but the Mustang fled and led police on a roughly 12-mile chase on Route 209 through Coaldale, Lansford, Summit Hill and Nesquehoning, according to prosecutors. The Mustang rammed a Nesquehoning police car but officers from other departments boxed in the vehicle, police said.
When asked how he felt about such an important arrest, Minnick humbly said, "It was a good one, I guess," before adding that he was glad no one was injured.
Police used video surveillance along with witness descriptions of the robber to link the 11 crimes, Tamaqua Cpl. Henry Woods said.
Hargrove is in federal custody; Nunez is in state custody, Smith said. Both are in prison since the car chase.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O'Hara is assigned to the Hargrove and Nunez case, and U.S. Senior District Judge Richard Conaboy, Scranton, will hear the cases. No dates have been set for proceedings, Smith said.
Clarence "C.J." Byrd, 17, of Hazleton, has also been charged through the juvenile court system for some of the robberies, although details about juvenile proceedings are not available to the public.
Tysheed Hargrove will face federal charges in the following armed robberies in which thousands of dollars and multiple items were stolen, according to prosecutors.
n Dec. 21, 2011 - Convenient Mart, 51 W. Juniper St., Hazleton. About $2,000 and several packs of cigarettes were taken.
n Dec. 24, 2011 - Turkey Hill, 70 Station Circle, Hazle Township. About $700 and packs of cigarettes were stolen.
n Jan. 5 - Unimart, state Route 940, Foster Township. Between $300 and $400 and other items including a firearm were stolen.
n Jan. 6 - Turkey Hill, 800 Alter St., Hazleton. About $500 and packs of cigarettes were taken.
n Jan. 10 - Turkey Hill, 800 Alter St., Hazleton. About $50 and packs of cigarettes were stolen.
n Jan. 20 - Fegley's Mini-Mart, 30-32 Center St., Tamaqua. About $3,290 was stolen.
n Jan. 26 - Fegley's Mini-Mart, 146 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo. About $580 in cash and candy and cigarettes were taken.
n Jan. 29 - Wawa, state Route 940, Kidder Township. About $450 was taken.
n Feb. 3 - Turkey Hill, 205 Claremont Ave., Hometown. About $80 was stolen.
n Feb. 3 - Unimart/Exxon, 541 Altamont Blvd., Frackville. About $1,975 was taken.
n Feb. 5 - Fegley's Mini-Mart/Dunkin Donuts, 30-32 Center St., Tamaqua. About $443 in cash and cigarettes were stolen.
Jose Nunez faces charges in the Dec. 21, Dec. 24, Jan. 5, Jan. 26, Jan. 29, and both Feb. 3 robberies. The armed robberies at a glance
Tysheed Hargrove will face federal charges in the following armed robberies in which thousands of dollars and multiple items were stolen, according to prosecutors:
· Dec. 21, 2011: Convenient Mart, 51 W. Juniper St., Hazleton. About $2,000 and several packs of cigarettes were taken.
· Dec. 24, 2011: Turkey Hill, 70 Station Circle, Hazle Township. About $700 and packs of cigarettes were stolen.
· Jan. 5: Unimart, state Route 940, Foster Township. Between $300 and $400 and other items including a firearm were stolen.
· Jan. 6: Turkey Hill, 800 Alter St., Hazleton. About $500 and packs of cigarettes were taken.
· Jan. 10: Turkey Hill, 800 Alter St., Hazleton. About $50 and packs of cigarettes were stolen.
· Jan. 20: Fegley's Mini-Mart, 30-32 Center St., Tamaqua. About $3,290 was stolen.
· Jan. 26: Fegley's Mini-Mart, 146 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo. About $580 in cash and candy and cigarettes were taken.
· Jan. 29: Wawa, state Route 940, Kidder Township. About $450 was taken.
· Feb. 3: Turkey Hill, 205 Claremont Ave., Hometown. About $80 was stolen.
· Feb. 3: Unimart/Exxon, 541 Altamont Blvd., Frackville. About $1,975 was taken.
· Feb. 5: Fegley's Mini-Mart/Dunkin Donuts, 30-32 Center St., Tamaqua. About $443 in cash and cigarettes were stolen.
Jose Nunez faces charges in the Dec. 21, Dec. 24, Jan. 5, Jan. 26, Jan. 29, and both Feb. 3 robberies.