Josue Bedell of Mastic, Christian Anderson of Shirley indicted in armed robberies
A Suffolk County grand jury indicted two men who pleaded not guilty this week in a series of armed robberies.
Josue Bedell, 22, of Mastic and Christian Anderson 24, of Shirley were charged in four robberies of gas stations and convenience stores, all hit in one night in December. They are charged with armed robbery and conspiracy after prosecutors said they robbed clerks at gunpoint.
“Gunpoint robberies terrorize hard-working members of our community and hurt small businesses,” Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement.
Prosecutors said Bedell and Anderson planned the robberies starting early Dec. 2, when they were armed with a gun and used a stolen Dodge Charger. The first robbery was at a store in Ronkonkoma, followed by robberies in Massapequa, Amityville and Hauppauge.
Prosecutors said Bedell went to a Bolla Market in Ronkonkoma in the stolen Dodge Charger at 1:35 a.m. when he ordered the clerk to turn over cash at gunpoint and then sped away with $1,000 in cash.
Bedell then went to a BP Gas Station in Hauppauge just before 2 a.m. where prosecutors said he robbed the clerk and fled with another $1,200.
About 20 minutes later, Bedell picked up Anderson and they went to a 7-Eleven store in Amityville where, prosecutors said, Bedell jumped the counter and held the clerk at gunpoint while demanding money from the cash register.
Prosecutors said Anderson acted as the getaway driver as they sped away from the Amityville store with about $800. Just six minutes later, prosecutors said they drove to another Bolla Market in Massapequa.
Bedell is accused of again jumping the counter and ordered the clerk to empty the register of $600 before they sped away, prosecutors said.
Nassau County police later found the Dodge Charger abandoned after it crashed into a tree outside a home in Wantagh. Police found Bedell’s cellphone, clothing from both men and some cash from the robberies, according to prosecutors.
The grand jury indicted both men on six counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy.
Bedell pleaded not guilty to the arraignment on a warrant, where Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft Jr., ordered him held on $2 million cash bail or $4 million bond.
Anerson pleaded not guilty Thursday and was held on $1.5 million cash bail or $3 million bond.
Attorneys for both men could not be reached for comment late Friday night.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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