Suffolk Man Pleads Guilty In Shooting 'Driven By Greed': DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Ridge man pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with shooting a man in the face in a robbery, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office said Tuesday.

On the early morning hours of June 22, 2022, Wilfredo Figueroa, 29, shot a 27-year-old man in the face while robbing him of his personal belongings, prosecutors said, adding that he immediately fled from the scene and went back to his home.

It was not immediately clear where the shooting took place.

The victim was taken to a local hospital, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was placed in a medically induced coma, prosecutors said.

Later that day, police pulled over Figueroa for a traffic violation, and found him in possession of two illegal loaded handguns and two high-capacity magazines, according to prosecutors.

Inside Figueroa’s vehicle were items belonging to him, including the victim’s identification, car keys, cellphone, and several credit cards, prosecutors said.

After the man awoke from his coma, a bullet fragment that was lodged in his neck was removed and given to the Suffolk police, according to prosecutors.

The Suffolk Medical Examiner’s office conducted a ballistics report, which concluded the bullet fragment recovered from the man’s neck was fired from one of the loaded handguns recovered from Figueroa’s vehicle, prosecutors said.

Tierney said Figueroa "was so driven by greed” that he shot the man.

"Thankfully, the victim survived this senseless and vicious attack,” he said. “Make no mistake, we will use every resource possible to find perpetrators of violence and hold them accountable for their crimes.”

Figueroa is due back in court on Sept. 5, where he is expected to be sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Attorney Steve Politi of Central Islip said the sentence "definitely reflects the seriousness of the allegations" and that his client "was told it was his in his best interest based upon all the evidence [the DA's office] had to enter a guilty plea and begin serving a sentence."

"Mr. Figueroa accepted responsibility today for a drug-induced robbery gone bad," Politi said, adding that while the victim "unfortunately was shot in the face" he "fortunately lived, and I believe is making a recovery."

"I think this highlights the dangers of smoking crack, and living on the street, and things of that nature," he said, adding that while his client did have housing, "the life that he was living at that time led him to make a very poor decision and he's grateful that the individual didn't die, and he certainly wishes him a speedy recovery, as best as he can."

"Were he not on drugs and in the throes of drug addiction, this likely wouldn't have happened," he said. "This is this, unfortunately, part of the, of the drug community where individuals do things that they wouldn't do if they were sober and living the way they they generally live."

His client is very remorseful, and if he could go back in time, he would have made better choices "that wouldn't have resulted in this," but "he's ready to accept his responsibility and his punishment, and he is looking forward to staying sober and maintaining a healthy life, both in custody and when he ultimately gets out of custody."

"I think he has a lot to offer the world when he's sober," he added.

Politi described Figueroa's family as "wonderful" people.

"They're heartbroken that this individual was hurt, and also that they're going to lose their loved one for a long period of time, but he has another chance," he said. "He's a young man. He's going to get out as a young man, and hopefully, he'll live the balance of his life in a law abiding fashion and create a situation where you can do some good make himself and his family proud."