BAY SHORE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) A five-time felon was convicted for robbing a Long Island laundromat in 2023, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Thursday.
Emilio Hernandez, 54, was convicted on Wednesday for robbery and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
According to the evidence, on April 11, 2023, Hernandez robbed a SuperSudz laundromat on the Sunrise Highway Service Road in Bay Shore with a starter pistol while wearing a hat, mask, and sunglasses to disguise himself.
He fled the laundromat in a black Honda and was filmed driving away by a witness.
Suffolk County police stopped Hernandez in that same vehicle a short time later in close proximity to the laundromat where officers recovered numerous items from the Honda including cash proceeds from the robbery, the clothing that Hernandez wore as a disguise during the robbery, and portions of the rubber gloves worn during the commission of the crime.
Prior to the verdict in this case, Hernandez was previously convicted of five felonies, multiple of which were violent, and eight misdemeanors.
Most recently, in 2011, Hernandez was convicted of robbery and was sentenced to eight years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
In 1995, he was convicted of attempted robbery, and was sentenced to four to eight years in prison.
In 1994, Hernandez was convicted of robbery and was sentenced to 30 months to five years in prison. In 1989, he was convicted of attempted robbery and was sentenced to 18 to 54 months in prison.
Hernandez is due back in court for sentencing on March 12, and faces up to 15 years in prison.
"This defendant is a career criminal as evidenced by his lengthy criminal record, including multiple convictions for robbery and attempted robbery," said D.A. Tierney. "We will ask the court to sentence this defendant to the maximum period of incarceration allowable under the law. Protecting our citizens and the local businesses that employ them is of the utmost importance to my office."