Union County Man Sentenced For Multi-State Armed Robbery Spree

ELIZABETH, NJ — A Union County man was sentenced Monday to 407 months in prison for participating in a multi-state armed robbery spree that spanned several months, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Vincent Chan-Guillen, 33, of Elizabeth was convicted on March 8, of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during a Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm during a Hobbs Act robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Chan-Guillen was convicted following a one-week trial and sentenced in Newark federal court on Monday to roughly almost 34 years in jail.

Chan-Guillen committed nine armed robberies between August 2018 and November 2018 – five in New York and four in New Jersey, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial.

During each robbery, Chan-Guillen pointed a gun at store employees and customers, authorities said.

Liquor stores in New Jersey that were hit in the robbery spree were located in Elizabeth, Woodbridge Township, Bloomfield, and Linden.

In addition to the prison term, Chan-Guillen was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

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