By: Richard L. Smith
An Essex County man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for carrying out an armed robbery at a pharmacy in Livingston, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Federal officials said Nariq Petes, 27, of Newark, was sentenced to 149 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The sentence was handed down by William J. Martini in Newark federal court.
Petes was convicted in October 2025 following a jury trial on charges including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and using and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.
According to court records and trial testimony, the incident occurred on December 30, 2023, when Petes and an accomplice, Xavier Reyes, entered a pharmacy in Livingston wearing black masks and armed with handguns.
Once inside, the pair demanded prescription medications and fled with at least six bottles.
Authorities arrested Petes just days later, on January 2, 2024, at his Newark residence, where investigators recovered the stolen medication.
Reyes previously pleaded guilty in May 2025 to related robbery charges and was sentenced to 111 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited federal and local law enforcement agencies for their work in the investigation and prosecution of the case.