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New Haven resident William Rosario Lopez, 34, and New Britain resident Solimar Rodriguez Gonzalez, 19, have been charged with federal offenses for their roles in multiple armed robberies of gas stations last month.
U.S. Attorney John Durham said that on Wednesday, March 18, Rosario Lopez entered the Shell gas station on Hartford Turnpike in Vernon wearing a black mask.
He pointed a silver pistol at the store clerk, grabbed him by his collar and marched him to the cash register. He then struck him in the back of the head, forced him to open the register and made off with $1,188.
It is then alleged that on Sunday, March 22, Rosario Lopez, now wearing a surgical-type mask, robbed Fleet Gas Station on Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in Southington at approximately 10 p.m.
Durham said that an employee gave Rosario Lopez $200, at which point he said “give me everything else,” and when the employee explained that the money had already been deposited into a safe he didn't have the combination for, Rosario Lopez kicked him, ordered him to stay on the floor and walked away.
Approximately an hour after the Southington robbery, Rosario Lopez allegedly robbed the Shell gas station on Hamilton Avenue in Waterbury, again pointing a pistol at a store clerk and stealing $500.
The following morning, less than two hours after the Waterbury robbery, Rosario Lopez, wearing the same surgical-type mask, demanded money and threatened to shoot an employee at a Shell gas station on Main Street in Asonia When the employee was unable to open the cash register quickly, Rosario Lopez fired a shot at the employee and left.
It is further alleged that on Thursday, March 26, Rosario stole approximately $250 from the cash register at Citgo on West Main Street in New Britain.
During at least two of the robberies, Gonzalez was caught on camera acting as a lookout during the Vernon and Waterbury robberies.
According to Durham, during the process of arresting Rosario Lopez and Gonzalez, police investigators searched a vehicle used during the robberies and recovered a silver .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol and 14 rounds of bullets.
Durham noted that Rosario Lopez’s criminal history includes convictions in New York for attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, and convictions in Puerto Rico for importation and unlawful possession of a firearm, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, threatening a witness, and aggravated robbery.
Rosario Lopez and Gonzalez were charged with Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.
If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison on each count. Rosario Lopez was also charged with brandishing a firearm during a robbery, possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and discharging a firearm during a robbery.
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