Mineola, NY - July 27, 2015 - Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that Alexander Wachmyanin was arraigned today on an indictment for a shoplifting spree that targeted six businesses in Nassau County, including CVS, Rite Aid and Key Food stores in East Rockaway, Garden City, Hewlett, Westbury and West Hempstead.
Wachmyanin, 50, with no known address, was arraigned on the following grand jury indictment charges today:
• Two Counts of Robbery in the 2nd Degree (a C violent felony)
• One Count of Robbery in the 3rd Degree (a D violent felony)
• One Count of Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D violent felony)
• Three Counts of Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree (an E felony)
• One Count of Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• One Count of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• One Count of Assault in the 3rd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• One Count of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the 3rd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
• Six Counts of Petit Larceny (an A misdemeanor)
Supreme Court Justice Teresa K. Corrigan raised Wachmyanin’s bail to $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash and ordered him back to court on Aug. 17. If convicted of the top charge, Wachmyanin faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison
“This defendant is charged with a six-month shoplifting spree that targeted locations all over Nassau County and on one occasion he carjacked a woman and injured a bystander as he fled an East Rockaway CVS location,” Acting DA Singas said. “Crimes against local businesses will not be tolerated and my office will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.”
Acting DA Singas said that Wachmyanin’s spree began on January 14, when he stole property from a Westbury Rite Aid Drug Store. Three months later, on April 14, Wachmyanin stole merchandise from a Hewlett CVS drug store and from two East Rockaway CVS drug stores.
On April 22, Wachmyanin returned to an East Rockaway CVS location he had stolen merchandise from earlier that month and took more property. The defendant was observed stealing merchandise and was chased from the store by employees. A struggle ensued and the employees were able to recover the stolen property. The defendant then pushed a woman who was about to enter her car, stole the vehicle and struck a parked car as he went in reverse. He then fled the scene.
Wachmyanin’s spree continued on May 24, when he stole property from a CVS location in West Hempstead.
The defendant then stole from a Garden City Key Food on the consecutive days June 25 and June 26. On two of the eight shoplifting incidents, the stolen merchandise exceeded $1,000. Among the items allegedly stolen by Wachmyanin during the spree were over-the-counter medicines, hair treatment products and razors.
Wachmyanin was arrested on June 28 by the Nassau County Police Department Bureau of Special Operations working in conjunction with Fourth Squad Detectives.
Assistant District Attorney Michelle Haddad of Acting DA Singas’ County Court Trial Bureau is prosecuting the case. Wachmyanin is represented by Jenna Suppon, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.