Queens Man Gets Life In Prison For 2011 Murder In Nassau

A Queens man was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison today for the 2011 robbery and murder of a man in Freeport.

Jerod Plowden, 31, was convicted on Oct. 19 of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery.

“Moez Hassan’s death was nothing short of an execution,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Jerod Plowden heartlessly shot this young man several times at point-blank range, taking the life of a son, brother and uncle from his devoted and loving family. We hope today’s sentence brings them some comfort.”

On April 12, 2011, around 1:30 p.m., Plowden and another man, Nolan Gaugler, met with Moez Hassan outside of an abandoned home on Steven Street in Freeport. They said they were there to buy Xanax pills from him. Instead, Plowden and Gaugler robbed Hassan of 75 Xanax pills and approximately $30 at gunpoint.

Hassan, who was 23 at the time, was then shot five times: once in the head, chest and left arm, and twice in the abdomen. The police department's ShotSpotter system picked up the noise of the gunshots and officers responded to the area. The two ran, but Gaugler was caught within minutes several blocks away, still in possession of the stolen drugs and money.

Plowden was arrested 16 days later in Suffolk County when the car he was a passenger in was pulled over during a routine traffic stop. Gaugler pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Photo courtesy Nassau County Police Department