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Multi-State Armed Robbery Spree Ends with Union County Man's 407-Month Prison Sentence
Vincent Chan-Guillen, convicted for numerous robberies and firearm offenses, receives a 407-month prison term in a federal court ruling.
Newark, NJ - In a significant ruling by the U.S. District Court in Newark, Vincent Chan-Guillen, a 33-year-old Union County man, has been sentenced to over 33 years (407 months) in prison for his role 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 multi-agency investigation.
Chan-Guillen was found guilty on March 8, 2023, of multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, using and carrying a firearm during a robbery, several counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon. The conviction followed a week-long trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler.
Robbery Spree Details
The evidence presented in court revealed Chan-Guillen's involvement in nine armed robberies between August and November 2018. His spree targeted five stores in New York and four in New Jersey, including liquor stores in Elizabeth, Woodbridge Township, Bloomfield, and Linden. During these robberies, Chan-Guillen intimidated store employees and customers by brandishing a firearm.
Beyond the prison term, Judge Chesler also ordered a five-year supervised release for Chan-Guillen after serving his sentence.
The successful conviction was a result of a comprehensive investigation led by the FBI, under Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark. The investigation was a collaborative effort, with contributions from various local police departments including Elizabeth, Rahway, Woodbridge, Bloomfield, Linden, Kenilworth, Union, and Lyndhurst. Additionally, the New Jersey State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division, and the New York Police Department played vital roles.
The government's case was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Desiree Grace, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and John F. Mezzanotte of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
