2 Men Arrested for Targeting and Robbing Business Owners

Two men who police say targeted local bakery and deli owners carrying cash home at night have been charged in connection with five armed robberies and a home invasion last month on Long Island.

Fredy Cortez-Sandoval, 24, of Hempstead, and Carlos Guzman-Lobo, 23, of Freeport, were arrested Wednesday after a traffic stop in Hempstead.

A knife and pellet gun were found in their car, Nassau police said.

A third man was also arrested but is not charged in connection with the robberies.

The robberies occurred in Hempstead, Freeport and Uniondale, according to Nassau police Det. Sgt. John Giambrone.

“They would rush up on these people, either at knifepoint or gunpoint, announce the robbery and demand the proceeds,” Giambrone said.

The robberies took place either outside the businesses or the store owners’ homes, Giambrone said.

It appears the suspects would track store owners’ comings and goings during the course of the day, Giambrome added, then follow them and carry out the robberies.

“That’s really scary because now they even know where you live and they follow you home,” said Hempstead furniture store owner Danny Kamer.

Proceeds from his store is something Kamer said he never carries with him under any circumstances.

The two suspects have both pleaded not guilty to robbery and other charges. Cortez-Sandoval was ordered held on $650,000 bail and Guzman-Lobo’s bail was $400,000.

Police say they suspect the two were involved in other robberies and are continuing to investigate.

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