2 Charged In Connection With Armed Robbery In Hamden: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — Two New Haven men face federal charges in connection with the armed robbery of a business in Hamden earlier this year, according to officials.

A federal grand jury in New Haven recently returned an indictment charging Sherod Manick, 25, and Nygere Evans, 21, with offenses related to armed robberies in Hamden and East Haven, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut David X. Sullivan announced.

Evans, who was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on Aug. 21, appeared in New Haven federal court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since his arrest. Manick was arrested and arraigned on Sept. 4, and is also detained, according to officials.

Manick and Evans are accused of brandishing and threatening to use firearms while robbing Dix Convenience at 1586 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden during the early morning hours on March 16, according to prosecutors.

“Manick and Evans stole approximately $600 in cash, approximately $500 in vape smoking devices, and cannabis products during the robbery,” officials wrote in a news release. “They then took a store employee’s car keys and fled the scene in his car. The vehicle was later located and recovered in New Haven.”

Manick and Evans are also accused of brandishing and threatening to use firearms on April 3 to rob ZaZa City, a convenience store at 855 Foxon Road in East Haven.

“Manick and Evans stole approximately $4,150 in cash and several cannabis products from the store and then fled on foot,” officials wrote.

The indictment charges Manick and Evans with one count of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; and two counts of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violent, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years, according to officials.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI New Haven Violent Crime Gang Task Force, the Hamden Police Department, the East Haven Police Department, and the New Haven Police Department.