A federal grand jury today indicted an Essex County man for his role in three armed robberies of pharmacies in West Orange, Belleville and East Orange U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
According to federal officials, Malik Conley, 27, of Newark, is charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of brandishing firearms in furtherance of the robberies and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will be arraigned on a date to be determined.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On October 21, 2019, Conley and a conspirator entered a pharmacy in East Orange while wearing face masks. One of the men entered the pharmacy holding a silver handgun pointed at employees.
The men demanded cash from the register as well as prescription medication. Conley and his conspirator fled the pharmacy with stolen medication and cash.
On December 3, 2019, Conley entered a pharmacy in Belleville while wearing a face covering and pointing a silver gun at employees. He demanded cash from the register as well as prescription medication, and ultimately fled the pharmacy with stolen medication and cash.
Law enforcement recovered the firearm believed to be used in this robbery later that day in Conley’s girlfriend’s car.
On January 13, Conley and a conspirator entered a pharmacy in East Orange while both wearing face masks. One of the men entered the pharmacy holding a gun pointed at employees. Both men demanded cash and prescription medication and ultimately fled the pharmacy with stolen medication and cash.
Conley was arrested later that evening with the car keys to the vehicle believed to be used in the East Orange robbery in his pocket. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and recovered prescription medication traceable to the East Orange Pharmacy.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.