Prosecutor: CVS trio investigated in other pharmacy robberies
Three men arrested after an attempted robbery at the CVS pharmacy on Route 58 in Riverhead Wednesday are being investigated in connection with several pharmacy robberies throughout Suffolk County, prosecutors said.
During their arraignments Thursday in Riverhead Town Justice Court, county assistant district attorney Tisha Burrows said Jhmil Dawson, 26 of Coram, his younger brother, Lavon Dawson,17, of Riverhead, and Ishawn Jackson, 16, of Calverton, may have been involved in a “pattern of other robberies” that have occurred throughout the county since January.
One of those robberies includes the Jan. 14 robbery of the same Route 58 CVS, Ms. Burrows said.
Ms. Burrows also told the court that Lavon Dawson has confessed to the January robbery, in which he and two other men entered the CVS armed and wearing masks, taking off with over $8,000.
He also confessed to holding the handgun during Wednesday’s armed robbery, pointing it at a CVS employee and forcing the employee to the floor in an attempt to steal money and cigarettes, she said.
Defense attorney Anthony Rutkowski said the handgun recovered by police was a BB gun.
Lavon Dawson, who has no criminal record according to the assistant district attorney, was charged with first-degree attempted robbery as well as first-degree robbery – both felonies – following his confession.
Ms. Burrows requested $200,000 cash bail, however Justice Allen Smith set it at $100,000.
Both Jhmil Dawson and Ishawn Jackson are also facing first-degree attempted robbery charges, with Jhmil Dawson also being charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, also a felony.
Hours after the Wednesday morning incident at CVS, the men were spotted by a farm worker in fields at nearby Anderson Farms and apprehended shortly after, police had said.
Jhmil Dawson is being held without bail, due to a past criminal history, Mr. Smith said during court.
Mr. Dawson has two prior felony convictions, including an attempted robbery conviction for which he served time in jail, Mr. Burrows said.
Ishawn Jackson, 16 and still in the Riverhead school system, is being held on $100,000 bail
Family members for all three men were present in court.
Before her son’s court appearance, Lakisha Jackson said her “heart is broken.
“He is so good with his sisters; he’s just a follower,” Ms. Jackson said. “I love him.”
Jhmil Dawson currently lives with his mother in Coram, his father, Andre Lee, said.
“He just turned the wrong way.” Mr. Dawson said, explaining that his son had recently moved back to Coram from Virginia, where he had graduated high school. “May God bless him.”
A Suffolk County grand jury is taking up the case, and all three suspects are due back in town court Monday.
Correction: Ishawn Jackson is being held on $100,000 bail. We previously reported $200,000.
