Timothy Lang, 32, terrorized people at four locations in half an hour
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Nassau jury found a Hempstead man guilty on all charges related to a 30-minute robbery spree, in which the defendant terrorized people at four separate locations in Nassau County on January 4.
Timothy Lang, 32, of Hempstead, was found guilty today on charges of: • Robbery in the 1st Degree (a B violent felony),
• Four counts of Robbery in the 2nd Degree (a C violent felony), • Three counts of Attempted Robbery in the 1st Degree (a C violent felony),
• Four counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D violent felony) • Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree (a D felony)
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree (an E felony)• Two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 5th Degree (an A misdemeanor)
The jury returned the verdict in three hours. “In a span of less than 30 minutes, the defendant robbed a deli and two gas stations and attempted to rob a smoke shop – all at gunpoint,” Acting DA Singas said. “Thanks to the civilians who tackled Mr. Lang, the police who responded to the scene, and our prosecutors in this trial, this violent spree came to an end and this defendant will now be held accountable for his crimes.”
The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison on the top count. He is due back in court for sentencing before Acting Supreme Court Justice Alan Honorof on November 18. Acting DA Singas said that on January 4, 2015, at around 6:05 p.m. this defendant wearing a gray and black plaid shirt, red and black pajama pants, and a white shirt wrapped around his face, entered a Roosevelt deli, displayed a silver gun and demanded money from the owner. He then took approximately $1200 in cash from the register.
Ten minutes later, Lang went to a Roosevelt gas station and approached a victim who was pumping gas into his car, displayed a silver gun and demanded money. The victim gave Lang what he had, $14, and the defendant then left the location.Five minutes later, at around 6:20 p.m. the defendant went to another gas station in Hempstead, displayed a silver gun and demanded to be let inside the cashier booth. When the employees told Lang that they were calling the police, the defendant jumped over the counter and assaulted one of the employees with the gun, fracturing his eye socket and knocking out several teeth. The defendant then removed approximately $300 from the register and fled the location.
At 6:30 p.m., the defendant showed up at smoke shop in Uniondale. When an employee told the defendant he could not go behind the counter the defendant took out his gun and struck the employee on his forehead, causing him to bleed. The employee then struggled with the defendant and with the aid of another employee, wrestled the gun away from the defendant. The employees held the defendant until Nassau County Police Department officers arrived. The defendant was then placed under arrest.
At three of the locations, video surveillance captured the robbery as they occurred. The defendant’s clothing also had blood DNA from the two victims he assaulted. Proceeds from the robberies were found in the defendant’s car where his girlfriend, Kaphia Larode, remained while the defendant committed the robberies.
Larode pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery in the 2nd Degree and was sentenced to six months in jail and received five years of probation.
Assistant District Attorneys Brian Lee and Lee Genser of Acting DA Singas’ County Court Bureau are prosecuting the case. Lang is represented by John Marshall, Esq.