Two Former New Jersey Residents Plead Guilty to Multiple Armed Robberies in Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Carbon Counties

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two former New Jersey residents pleaded guilty today before Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick and admitted to participating in multiple armed robberies of stores and businesses located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Carbon Counties between December 2011 and February 2012.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Tysheed Hargrove, age 20, also known by the street-name “Sincere,” formerly of Newark, New Jersey, admitted to 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting.

Specifically, Hargrove admitted to robbing the following institutions:

• Convenient Mart, 51 West Juniper Street, Hazleton, on December 21, 2011;
• Turkey Hill, 70 Station Circle, Hazle Township, on December 24, 2011;
• Unimart, Route 940, Foster Township, on January 5, 2012;
• Turkey Hill, 800 Alter Street, Hazleton, on January 6, 2012;
• Turkey Hill, 800 Alter Street, Hazleton, on January 10, 2012;
• Fegley’s Mini-Mart, 30-32 Center Street, Tamaqua, on January 20, 2012 ;
• Fegley’s Mini-Mart, 146 South Kennedy Drive, McAdoo, on January 26, 2012;
• Wawa, SR 940, White Haven, on January 29, 2012;
• Turkey Hill, 205 Claremont Avenue, Hometown, on February 3, 2012;
• Unimart/Exxon, 541, Altamont Boulevard, Frackville, on February 3, 2012; and
• Fegley’s Mini-Mart/Dunkin Donuts, 30-32 Center Street, Tamaqua, on February 5, 2012.

In addition, Jose Nunez, age 20, also known by the street-name “Skillz,” formerly of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Hargrove in the following seven robberies:

• Convenient Mart, 51 West Juniper Street, Hazleton, on December 21, 2011;
• Turkey Hill, 70 Station Circle, Hazle Township, on December 24, 2011;
• Unimart, Route 940, Foster Township, on January 5, 2012;
• Fegley’s Mini-Mart, 146 South Kennedy Drive, McAdoo, on January 26, 2012;
• Wawa, SR 940, White Haven, on January 29, 2012;—Turkey Hill, 205 Claremont Avenue, Hometown on February 3, 2012; and
• Unimart/Exxon, 541, Altamont Boulevard, Frackville on February 3, 2012;

Magistrate Judge Mehalchick ordered that presentence investigations be conducted by the United States Probation Office. Sentencing will be scheduled at a future date before Senior United States District Judge Richard P. Conaboy.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Hazleton, Tamaqua, McAdoo, Kidder Township, Rush Township, and Nesquehoning Police Departments and the Luzerne County, Schuylkill County, and Carbon County District Attorney’s Offices.

Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O'Hara.