Leader of Armed Robbery Crew Targeting Pharmacies Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Jordan Velez was sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to 14 years’ imprisonment for his organizing role in the armed robberies of 10 pharmacies.  Velez pleaded guilty to a Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and firearm charges in October 2021.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the sentence.

“Jordan Velez recruited and directed a crew of robbers that put our citizens in grave danger when they entered numerous pharmacies wielding their semi-automatic weapons.  They stole drugs and money and terrorized many victims.” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Today, Velez has been justly punished for these violent crimes.”  

“Velez and his coconspirators brought violence and fear to multiple communities throughout the New York metropolitan area when they used semi-automatic weapons to rob pharmacies of money and prescription pills.  As the sentence today shows, the FBI will ensure anyone willing to commit crimes of this nature faces consequences in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

“Defendant Jordan Velez and his associates committed numerous pharmaceutical robberies from Nassau County to New Jersey while they were armed placing the public in danger.  I would like to thank all of the dedicated law enforcement professionals from numerous agencies for a job well done.  Hopefully Velez will receive an appropriate punishment upon sentencing which will keep him incarcerated so he is not a threat to the public,” said NCPD Commissioner Ryder.

Between February 2018 and May 2019, Velez participated in 10 separate armed robberies of pharmacies.  During each robbery, acting on Velez’s orders, Velez’s co-conspirators donned masks and entered pharmacies in Long Island, Queens and New Jersey armed with semi-automatic weapons.  They demanded prescription pills and money from the pharmacy’s employees.  During a robbery that took place in April 2018, Velez’s crew duct-taped a victim inside a CVS pharmacy in Port Jefferson Station, New York.  Velez and his crew stole more than $200,000 worth of prescription pills and money during their robbery spree.  Co-defendants Ricky Torres and Steven Valenzuela previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Judge Seybert to 102 months’ imprisonment and 84 months’ imprisonment, respectively.

The Robberies

• February 17, 2018, CVS in Valley Stream, Long Island
• February 19, 2018, Walgreens in Bethpage, Long Island
• February 23, 2018, Walgreens in Linden, New Jersey
• March 7, 2018, Walgreens in South Ozone Park, Queens
• March 11, 2018, CVS in Queens Village, Queens
• March 15, 2018, CVS in Glen Cove, Long Island
• March 21, 2018, CVS in Rahway, New Jersey
• March 30, 2018, CVS in East Orange, New Jersey
• April 3, 2018, CVS in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island
• May 22, 2018, Walgreens in South Ozone Park, Queens

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Misorek is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

JORDAN VELEZ
Age:  24
Flushing, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-265 (S-2) (JS)