Newark Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Carjacking and Four Armed Pharmacy Robberies

NEWARK—Reginald H. Ware was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for participating in four armed pharmacy robberies in Jersey City and Union City, New Jersey between July and October 2010, and for a Jersey City carjacking in October 2010, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Ware, 42, a/k/a “Ronell Wilson,” a/k/a “Kyiis M. Justice,” a/k/a “Kyyiis Justice,” of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of the indictment filed against him in March 2011: conspiracy to commit the pharmacy robberies (count one), brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence (count six), and carjacking (count seven). Ware entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, who also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Ware and separately charged co-conspirator Rahoo Drew, 32, of Newark, robbed four New Jersey pharmacies: the Wisdom Pharmacy in Jersey City on July 27, 2010; the Welcome Pharmacy in Jersey City on August 4, 2010; the Americas Pharmacy in Union City on October 14, 2010; and Carry Drugs in Jersey City on October 16, 2010. In each robbery, the two men walked into the pharmacy with firearms in hand and ordered everyone to lie face-down on the floor. The victims were threatened with death if they did not comply. After securing the victims inside the pharmacies, the two men seized controlled substances and took cash from the pharmacies and individual victims, as well as jewelry.

On October 12, 2010, Ware carjacked a livery cab driver from New York after being taken to Jersey City. Ware and Drew used the carjacked car as the getaway vehicle in the October pharmacy robberies.

Ware and Drew were arrested on November 11 and 9, 2010, respectively, and were held in state custody prior to the case being brought to Newark federal court following the indictment. Drew previously entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy to commit the four armed robberies and awaits sentencing.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Walls sentenced Ware to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $31,595.63.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Edward J. De Fazio; along with the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Comey, for the work leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys José R. Almonte and Unit Chief Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Rubin Sinins Esq., Newark