NJ Man Sentenced to Over 33 Years in Prison for Multi-State Armed Robbery Spree

In a federal court ruling, Vincent Chan-Guillen, who was convicted of many robberies and firearm charges, was sentenced to 407 months in prison.

In a significant ruling by the U.S. District Court in Newark, Vincent Chan-Guillen, a 33-year-old man from Union County, has been sentenced to over 33 years (407 months) in prison for his involvement in a series of armed robberies across New York and New Jersey. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the sentence today, marking the culmination of a thorough multi-agency investigation.

Chan-Guillen was convicted on March 8, 2023, of various charges, which included conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, using and carrying a firearm during a robbery, multiple counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler presided over the week-long trial that led to the conviction.

Robbery Spree Details

Chan-Guillen’s participation in nine armed robberies between August and November 2018 was revealed during the court proceedings. His crime spree specifically targeted five stores in New York and four in New Jersey, which included liquor stores located in Elizabeth, Woodbridge Township, Bloomfield, and Linden. Throughout these incidents, Chan-Guillen instilled fear in both store employees and customers by displaying a firearm.

Judge Chesler also mandated a five-year supervised release for Chan-Guillen following his imprisonment.

The FBI, led by Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, successfully convicted the individual after conducting a thorough investigation. This investigation was a collaborative effort, involving multiple local police departments such as Elizabeth, Rahway, Woodbridge, Bloomfield, Linden, Kenilworth, Union, and Lyndhurst. The New Jersey State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division, and the New York Police Department also made significant contributions to the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Desiree Grace, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and John F. Mezzanotte from the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark represented the government’s case.

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