Essex County Resident Sentenced to Over 11 Years for Multiple Pharmacy Robberies

Charles Johnson faces a lengthy prison term for a series of armed thefts targeting prescription medications in Elizabeth, NJ.

In a significant legal development, Charles Johnson, a 28-year-old resident of Irvington, Essex County, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 138 months in prison following his admission of guilt in a series of armed pharmacy robberies. The sentencing, carried out by U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court, comes after Johnson's guilty plea to charges encompassing three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

The series of robberies, executed throughout June and July 2022, saw Johnson targeting three different pharmacies in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Utilizing a consistent modus operandi, Johnson brandished a firearm during the early morning hours, demanding oxycodone, promethazine, and other prescription medications from pharmacy employees under the threat of violence. Law enforcement agencies were able to link Johnson to these crimes through extensive video surveillance footage, painting a clear picture of his involvement.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams has mandated three years of supervised release for Johnson, underscoring the seriousness with which the judicial system views armed robbery and its commitment to community safety.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the FBI, led by Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under Prosecutor William A. Daniel; and the Elizabeth Police Department, led by Chief Giacomo Sacca, in bringing Johnson to justice. The successful investigation and subsequent sentencing highlight the effective partnership between federal and local law enforcement agencies in addressing violent crime and protecting public health and safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern of the General Crimes Unit in Newark represented the government in this case, further demonstrating the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecuting those who threaten community security and public health by illegally diverting prescription medications through acts of violence.