Robber Armed With BB Gun Who Pistol-Whipped Burger King Worker Takes A Plea Deal

TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR, NY — A man who terrorized workers at a Hudson Valley fast food restaurant has admitted to responsibility for a violent robbery.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 50-year-old Joseph Rico, of Poughkeepsie, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to first-degree robbery. It will be recommended that he be sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, when he is sentenced on October 14.

During plea proceedings, he admitted to forcibly stealing property, and to threatening the immediate use of a dangerous instrument, according to the district attorney.

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According to court documents and police, on March 27, Rico entered the Burger King restaurant located on Windsor Highway, in the Town of New Windsor, by following employees into the building before the business opened.

Once inside, he displayed what appeared to be a pistol and told employees to get on the ground. Rico then instructed an employee to go to the office, threatened her with what appeared to be a pistol, and demanded that she open the safe. When the employee refused and tried to call 911, Rico pistol-whipped her, stole her phone, and fled the scene.

After investigating, the Town of New Windsor Police Department identified Rico as the suspect which led to his arrest.

"This defendant's admitted conduct was both violent and senseless," Hoovler said. "While, thankfully, the victim did not sustain serious injuries, this defendant nonetheless demonstrated a callous and perilous disregard for the employees who were just doing their job. The careful work of law enforcement led to the arrest and conviction of a dangerous offender. Our community will be safer during the pendency of the lengthy prison sentence expected in this case."

The district attorney thanked the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Rico. He also thanked the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department who helped in the investigation.