Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Jeff Roselien was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry for his role in four gunpoint robberies of pharmacies. Roselien had previously pleaded guilty on November 15, 2017 to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and brandishing a firearm during the conspiracy. On August 4, 2017, co-conspirator Wensley Paul was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment; on January 25, 2018, Gregory St. Juste was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment; and on April 12, 2018, Max Narcisse, Jr. was sentenced to 117 months’ imprisonment following their guilty pleas to the same charges.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentences and guilty pleas.

"In a matter of weeks, the defendants committed numerous gunpoint robberies of pharmacies in Brooklyn, terrorizing the employees and stealing powerful opioids to resell them on the street," stated United States Attorney Donoghue. "The defendants have now been held accountable for contributing to the deadly opioid epidemic and endangering the community. This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously prosecute those who seek to profit from this epidemic." Mr. Donoghue thanked the Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and New York City Police Department Detectives assigned to the ATF Joint Robbery Task Force for their outstanding work on the case.

According to court filings and statements, in August and September 2016, the defendants and their co-conspirators conducted a series of gunpoint robberies of pharmacies in Brooklyn. On August 16, 2016, two co-conspirators entered the Mill Basin Pharmacy on Avenue T. While inside, the perpetrators held the store employees, one of whom was pregnant, at gunpoint in a back room. The robbers made off with over $4,000 in prescription pills and merchandise and escaped in a car driven by Roselien. On September 8, 2016, St. Juste and a co-conspirator entered This Way Pharmacy on Quintin Road. Inside the store, the robbers brandished a firearm, stole oxycodone pills and cash and fled in a getaway car driven by Roselien. On September 13, 2016, St. Juste and two co-conspirators entered the Living Word Pharmacy located on Utica Avenue. The robbers made off with oxycodone pills, employees’ cell phones and cash, and left in a getaway car driven by Roselien.

On September 26, 2016, St. Juste, Paul and Naricisse robbed the Mill Park Pharmacy on Avenue U. Upon entering the pharmacy, St. Juste pulled out a firearm and forced a store clerk to go behind a counter, demanding to know where the "oxy" was and threatening to shoot the clerk. The three men fled in a car driven by Roselien. Shortly after the perpetrators left the scene, NYPD officers recognized Roselien’s car from the prior robberies and pulled it over, arresting the four defendants. Upon searching the car, officers recovered a loaded, stolen .45 caliber pistol, as well as cash and the stolen merchandise.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Keith D. Edelman is in charge of the prosecution.

Defendant Sentenced Today:

JEFF ROSELIEN

Age: 31

Brooklyn, New York

Defendants Previously Sentenced:

MAX NARICSSE, JR.

Age: 25

Brooklyn, New York

GREGORY ST. JUSTE

Age: 21

Brooklyn, New York

WENSLEY PAUL

Age: 25

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-554 (DLI)

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