MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Queens man pleaded guilty today to charges related to a 2015 holiday season armed robbery at Roosevelt Field Mall that left a mall employee wounded.
Oliver Lee, 22, pleaded guilty 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). The defendant is due back in court July 21 and is expected to be sentenced to 11 years in prison and five years post release supervision. The NCDA recommended a sentence of 20 years in prison.
“This defendant terrorized holiday shoppers and shot an innocent mall worker when he attempted to steal a Rolex from a Roosevelt Field jewelry store,” DA Singas said. “Thanks to the quick and brave response security guards this defendant was subdued without further violence.”
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 67-year-old mall employee in the shoulder.
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 spent one day in a hospital and has since recovered from his injuries.
Assistant District Attorney Veronica Guariglia of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting the case. Lee is represented by Bruce Barket, Esq.