NJ Man Gets 12 Years in Prison for Armed Pharmacy Robbery

A North Jersey man who robbed a pharmacy at gunpoint in 2023 has been sentenced to more than a dozen years behind bars.

Following a jury trial last October in Newark federal court, 27-year-old Nariq Petes of Newark was convicted of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Thursday, he was sentenced to 149 months, or about 12 1/2 years, in prison and five years of supervised release.

STORY NOTES: The Hobbs Act, named after Congressman Sam Hobbs of Alabama, was enacted in 1946. It prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion that affects interstate or foreign commerce. It also forbids conspiracy to do so.

Federal authorities said on December 30th, 2023, Petes and Xavier Reyes drove together to a pharmacy in Livingston, NJ. Once inside, wearing black masks, the pair brandished handguns, demanded prescription drugs, and took at least six bottles of medication.

Three days later, authorities arrested Petes at his apartment in Newark, where he was found with stolen medication from the pharmacy.

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Last May, Reyes pleaded guilty to charges related to this case and he was sentenced to 111 months, or about nine years, in prison, with a three-year term of supervised release.

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Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com