Queens man on trial in jewelry shop robbery

The alleged member of a robbery crew that terrorized victims on Long Island and in Queens pointed a gun at the 75-year-old father of a Queens jewelry store owner and then threw him to the ground during the stickup of the store, a federal prosecutor charged Wednesday.

Darius Lowery, 23, of Jamaica, Queens, is accused of conspiracy, robbery and the use of a gun in commission of a robbery, in the 2009 holdup of the Gold Fashion Jewelry store in Far Rockaway, federal prosecutor Lara Treinis Gatz said at the opening of Lowery's trial in federal court in Central Islip. More than $100,000 worth of jewelry was stolen, she said.

Treinis Gatz said key evidence includes video taken by surveillance cameras during the robbery showing Lowery knocking down the owner's father, Jooill Pahk; the testimony of accomplices; and Lowery's cellphone records showing calls made near the scene at the time of the robbery.

Lowery's attorney, Anthony La Pinta, argued in his opening statement that the video is not sharp enough to show that his client was involved in the robbery; the so-called accomplices are lying to get better deals; and the cellphone records do not prove Lowery was at the scene of the crime.

The two leaders of the robbery crew, first cousins Sharod Williams, 39, and Travis Walker, 25, of South Ozone Park, were convicted in December in federal court of masterminding the robbery of the Wyandanch post office and six banks. Williams also was convicted of robbing the jewelry store.

Lowery has only been charged in connection with the jewelry store robbery.

If convicted, Lowery could face 20 years in prison.