What to Know
- A Perth Amboy, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 47 years in prison for multiple convenience store robberies, authorities say
- Raul Zarco was found guilty of robbing two convenience stores and attempted to rob a third store
- According to officials, Zarco will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole
A New Jersey man was sentenced to 47 years in prison for multiple convenience store robberies, authorities say.
Raul Zarco, 42, of Perth Amboy, was sentenced Tuesday to serve the aggregate decades-long sentence in a state prison, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.
The sentence was imposed after Zarco was found guilty by a jury on March 23, 2018, of three counts of armed robbery in the first degree, one count of attempted armed robbery in the second degree, one count of possession of an imitation firearm in the fourth degree, three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery in the second degree, two counts of theft by unlawful taking in the third degree, and two counts of making terroristic threats in the third degree.
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According to officials, because Zarco’s sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, he will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The judge imposed the extended term due to Zarco’s previous convictions and because of this, Zarco received two consecutive terms: 40 years for the armed robberies and 7 years for the attempted armed robbery. The others eight counts were merged with the sentence he received.
According to prosecutors, between Jan. 31, 2015, and March 13, 2015, Zarco robbed two convenience stores in Perth Amboy and attempted to rob a third store.
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On January 31, 2015, Zarco, and co-defendant Pedro Ortiz, allegedy entered a mini market on Catalpa Street in Perth Amboy at closing time, ordered the owner to his knees and robbed him of approximately $3,500 at gunpoint, authorities say.
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Additionally, on Feb. 9, 2015, Zarco and Ortiz allegedly robbed a mini market on Cortlandt Street in the same way and stole approximately $4,000.
Subsequently, on March 13, 2015 police were dispatched to a convenience store on Smith Street when the two were allegedly seen casing the location, prosecutors say, adding that Zarco and Ortiz were arrested before they attempted to rob the store, while in possession of a gun.
Ortiz pleaded guilty to multiple counts of armed robbery and is facing a prison term of up to 10 years when he is sentenced on July 30.
