A Jamaica man who robbed the same pharmacy at gunpoint on two separate occasions was arrested on Friday, authorities announced.
Jacquan Mark Stroud, 27, was arrested on Jan. 26 and arraigned the next day on federal charges of interfering with commerce by robbery and carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. According to a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue of the Eastern District of New York, Stroud is currently being held without bail.
According to law officials, at 1:25 p.m. on Dec. 19, Stroud, who was said to be wearing a long wig and sunglasses, walked into Aly-Marc Pharmacy, located at 179-41 Hillside Ave., placed an Adidas bag on the counter and demanded Oxycodone and Promethazine while pointing a firearm at the 63-year-old pharmacist.
Stroud then allegedly took 600 pills of Oxycodone, eight 1-pint bottles of Promethazine, and approximately $3,600 in cash. He then fled the scene eastbound on Hillside Avenue and removed his wig and sunglasses before entering the “F” train subway station at the corner of 179 Street and Hillside Avenue.
The second incident took place at 10 a.m. on Jan. 18. Stroud returned to Aly-Marc Pharmacy, approached the 57-year-old male employee and displayed a handgun, ordering him to open the door to the rear of the pharmacy.
Law enforcement sources said Stroud then stepped behind the counter and demanded money from the register as well as drugs and prescription medications. The victim complied, handing over $3,000 in cash, numerous pill bottles and liquid medication bottles.
According to the criminal complaint, once Stroud had the pills and cash, he forced the victim into back room where he tied him up with zip ties and struck him on the head multiple times with the handgun. Stroud then fled the location on foot and entered the “F” train subway station at the corner of 179th Street and Hillside Avenue, where police later found his wig.
During the investigation, police found that the suspect was using a certain student MetroCard without authorization. After examining usage patterns of that MetroCard, the officers determined that the MetroCard’s user tended to enter the Jamaica Center subway station at certain identified times.
On Jan. 26, police saw Stroud pass through the turnstile and recognized him as the perpetrator of the robberies. Officers frisked Stroud and found a loaded Taurus .380-caliber handgun and 138 oxycodone pills, which led to Stroud’s arrest.
Law officials say that while in police custody, Stroud allegedly admitted to the robberies and used the gun that was in his possession.
