Atlantic City Man Admits To Two Armed Robberies At Same Store: Prosecutor

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — An Atlantic City man has pleaded guilty to two first-degree robbery charges tied to armed holdups at Pat’s Liquor Store and to one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, handgun without a permit.

Robert Arroyo, 49, entered the guilty plea Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

In exchange for the plea, the recommended sentence is an aggregate term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison with a parole ineligibility period of eight and a half years concurrent to five years in New Jersey State Prison with a parole ineligibility period of three and a half years. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.

The handgun charge stems from a Feb. 9, 2025, incident in Ventnor. According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, officers from the Ventnor Police Department were dispatched for a report of a disturbance. While on scene, Arroyo told officers that because family members were involved in a dispute, he retrieved his handgun from the residence and had it with him. Officers observed a black handgun in Arroyo’s back pocket that he did not have a permit for, authorities said.

The robbery charges relate to two incidents at Pat’s Liquor Store in Atlantic City in April 2025. On April 4, Atlantic City police were dispatched to the store for a report of an armed robbery. The victim reported that a suspect entered the store, got a six-pack of beer from the cooler and placed it on the counter, then said he needed to get money from his car, officials said.

When the suspect returned, the victim reported that he pointed a handgun at him and ordered him to open both cash registers. The victim complied, and the suspect took about $1,000, according to the case summary. Arroyo was later identified through surveillance and facial recognition technology, but he was not located at that time.

Police were dispatched to the same store again on April 26, 2025, for another reported armed robbery. The victim told officers that a man entered the store, grabbed a beer and approached the register as if to pay, but instead produced a black handgun and pointed it at him, authorities said. The suspect demanded that the victim open both cash registers and then took the money. The victim also reported that the suspect ordered him to open the safe between the registers and took additional money.

Arroyo was later identified through surveillance, officials said. He was apprehended on April 29, 2025. The State filed to detain Arroyo, and he was detained pending sentence.