NEWARK – A federal grand jury indicted an Essex County man Oct. 14 for his role in three armed robberies of pharmacies in West Orange, Belleville and East Orange, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Malik Conley, 27, of Newark, is 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. He will be arraigned on a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Oct. 21, 2019, Conley and a conspirator entered a pharmacy in East 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.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie Patterson in Newark; the West Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Abbott; the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini; and the East Orange Police Department, under the direction Chief William C. Robinson, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma Spiro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
