Serial Knifepoint Robber, Getaway Driver Arraigned on Federal Charges: Police

The Long Island man who committed more than two dozen knifepoint robberies on Long Island and in Queens over the past couple months to feed his drug addiction was arraigned on federal charges Thursday, police say.

Khalif House, 24, of Hempstead, was charged with interfering with interstate commerce by robbery at federal court in Central Islip. House was held without bail and remains in custody at the Nassau County Correctional Facility.

House’s girlfriend, identified as 23-year-old Valley Stream resident Lisette Veltri, who is accused of acting as a getaway driver in some of the robberies, was also charged with interfering with interstate commerce by robbery.

Authorities found Veltri inside the suspected getaway vehicle Tuesday night and was placed under arrest. Veltri, who has no prior criminal record, is being charged with assisting House in seven to 10 robberies and was released on $150,000 bond, ABC 7 reports.

Veltri told authorities she would drop off House at the locations and pick him up after a short period of time, according to the New York Daily News.

Police say Khalif’s heroin addiction was the motive behind at least 27 convenience store robberies since early February. He struck 13 stores in Nassau, four in Suffolk, and 10 in New York City, police say. More information on the robberies can be found here.

A NYPD representative said House’s robbery streak came to an end when he tried to rob a Dollar Tree store in College Point at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday. The female cashier fought him off and House fled without any proceeds, causing him to rob a Dunkin’ Donuts in Little Neck just 20 minutes later, police say.

Authorities responded to the Dunkin’ Donuts store and and say they chased House for several blocks on foot before he got away.

House broke into two Floral Park home to evade authorities and in one home, a resident woke up to find House sleeping on his couch Wednesday morning, according to the New York Post.

House was officially placed under arrest in a parking lot at 8 South Tyson Ave.

Image via NCPD