Man Fired Gun During Pharmacy Robberies In Passaic County: Officials

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A man accused of threatening pharmacy employees with a gun during two robberies in Passaic County has been arrested and charged, federal officials said.

The robberies happened on Feb. 8 in Paterson and on April 5 in Passaic, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. In both cases, the accused fired a handgun while inside the pharmacy and demanded money and pills, said Sellinger.

Officials charged Antonio Rivera, 46, of Paterson with one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence according to Sellinger.

Rivera robbed the Paterson pharmacy after firing one shot and demanding Percocet, morphine, and Oxycodone pills from employees, said Sellinger. One employee put the medicine in his backpack, and another gave Rivera cash from the register after he fired the gun a second time, Sellinger added.

The April 5 incident was an attempted robbery, Sellinger said. Rivera is accused of pointing a gun at a pharmacy employee's head and demanding they give him money from the register.

"When the employee refused, Rivera demanded pills while pointing the handgun at other pharmacy employees and fired a shot before fleeing the pharmacy through the rear," said Sellinger.

Rivera made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and was detained, Sellinger said Monday.

Sellinger said the maximum potential penalty for both the interference with commerce by robbery and attempted interference with commerce by robbery charges is 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for each count.

The discharging of a firearm during a crime of violence count carries a maximum of life in prison and mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other prison term, and a $250,000 fine according to Sellinger.