4 Union Co. Men Charged With Robbing Cranford Gas Station At Gunpoint: U.S. Attorney

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Four Union County men were charged last week for their roles in an armed robbery of a gas station in Cranford almost three years ago, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Tuesday.

Roselle residents Wiggins Cadet, 24, and Khalil Brown, 23, as well as Linden residents Zyquan McCray, 23, and Tyrone Crutchfield-Davis, 27, were each charged in a five-count superseding indictment returned on Aug. 2, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

They each received one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery. A Hobbs Act robbery is defined as unlawfully taking another person's property “by means of actual or threatened force.”

According to documents filed for the case and statements made in court, the gas station in Cranford was robbed by two masked individuals — later identified as Cadet and McCray — on Dec. 15, 2019.

Cadet was carrying a gun as he and McCray stole cash from two gas station attendants, according to the U.S. Attorney. After fleeing the gas station, Cadet and McCray got into a getaway car driven by Brown.

An investigation revealed that Crutchfield-Davis, one of the gas station attendants, was involved in the robbery scheme, the U.S. Attorney said.

"The Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and conspiracy to brandish a firearm during a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison," the U.S. Attorney said in a statement.

Carrying a gun during a crime of violence carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney.

The possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest, the U.S. Attorney stated.

Cadet, McCray, and Crutchfield-Davis were also charged with one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of conspiracy to brandish a firearm during a crime of violence.

Cadet is additionally charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The four men were charged last week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and all pleaded "not guilty."

In related news, a gas station in Summit was also robbed at gunpoint by two men on Sunday. Summit Police are still looking to identify the men, as they quickly fled the scene following the robbery.

Read more: Armed Robbery At Sunoco Gas Station In Summit, Police Seek Information

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