Oliver Lee tried to steal an $18,000 Rolex from the Tourneau Jewelry Store
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Queens man was sentenced to 11 years in prison and five years post release supervision for a 2015 holiday season armed robbery at Roosevelt Field Mall that left a mall employee wounded. The NCDA recommended a sentence of 20 years in prison.
Oliver Lee, 22, pleaded guilty on June 12 in front of Supreme Court Justice William Donnino to Robbery in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony) and three counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D violent felony).
“An innocent 69-year-old mall employee was shot and holiday shoppers were terrorized when this defendant's gun fired following his attempted theft of a Rolex,” DA Singas said. “Thanks to the bravery of a retired NYPD Sergeant, he was apprehended, and now he will pay for his crime behind bars.”
DA Singas said that on Dec. 22, 2015, at approximately 12:55 p.m., Lee brandished a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the Rolex section of the Torneau Jewelry Store in the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City. The defendant attempted to rob the store of a Rolex Yacht-Master watch that sells for more than $18,000.
Retired NYPD Sergeant Kenneth Krug, a store security guard, attempted to subdue the defendant. During the struggle, Lee’s gun, which was in his hand, fired and struck a 69-year-old mall employee in the neck.
Two other security guards assisted and detained the suspect in another store. Nassau County Police Department personnel responded to the scene and arrested Lee.
The shooting victim has a bullet lodged in the back of his neck but has otherwise recovered from his injuries.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Veronica Guariglia of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting the case. Lee is represented by Bruce Barket, Esq.