Man Robbed 7 Pharmacies At Gunpoint In Passaic County, Feds Charge

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Passaic County man faces more federal charges in a string of armed robberies at area pharmacies, federal officials said.

In October, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey charged 26-year-old Onijee Burgess with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery after saying he conspired with another man to steal prescriptions from the pharmacies.

A federal grand jury has indicted Burgess, of Paterson, on nine additional charges, including Hobbs Act robbery and various firearms offenses, said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger's office.

Authorities charge that Burgess and Antonio Rivera orchestrated seven gunpoint robberies at five pharmacies in Paterson and Passaic between November 2022 and April 2023.

"Law enforcement collected an extensive amount of video surveillance footage and cell phone data that ultimately linked Burgess and Rivera to the robberies," Sellinger's office said.

Rivera has also been accused of threatening pharmacy employees with a gun during two of the robberies.

Burgess was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; one count of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; three counts of Hobbs Act robbery; one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery; one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and three counts of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.