New Haven Man Charged In 2 Gunpoint Robberies: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT — A New Haven man has been indicted on federal charges in connection with armed robberies in West Haven and New Haven in May, according to officials.

A federal grand jury in New Haven recently returned a five-count indictment charging Gary Gibson Jr. with offenses stemming from the armed robberies of two convenience stores in May, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Gibson pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday in New Haven federal court. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on May 8, according to officials.

Gibson is accused of brandishing a Glock semiautomatic handgun and robbing the Star Food & Convenience Store at 193 Boston Post Road in West Haven on May 7.

Authorities said he robbed the 7th Haven Convenience Store at 129 Sylvan Avenue in New Haven on May 8, and discharged the same handgun during the robbery. Gibson stole cash from both stores, according to authorities.

New Haven Police, with the assistance of West Haven Police, arrested Gibson shortly after the New Haven robbery and seized the handgun he is accused of using during the robberies, officials said.

The gun had an attached laser sight and a loaded 15-round magazine, according to officials.

Officials said Gibson’s criminal history includes six felony convictions for weapon possession, robbery, and larceny offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The indictment charges Gibson with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), an offense that carries a maximum term 20 years in prison; one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years; one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, according to officials.