BOSTON – A Holyoke man has been handed a 13-year sentence in federal court for his role in a terrifying spree of armed robberies that terrorized Western Massachusetts.
Alfredo Aldeco, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 13 years behind bars followed by three years of supervised release. The former convenience store clerk was also ordered to pay $7,375 in forfeiture and restitution.
In March 2024, Aldeco pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of using a firearm in relation to crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His co-defendant, Emilio Rivera, was sentenced on July 6, 2023, to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The spree began on November 14, 2018, when Aldeco and Rivera robbed a clerk at gunpoint in West Springfield. Aldeco’s chilling threat, “If you call the cops, I will come back and kill you,” left an indelible mark on the local community. The firearm used was later discovered during a search of Rivera’s home – it had been hidden in a bedroom occupied by Aldeco at the time.
Altogether, nine convenience stores were robbed over two weeks, with Holyoke, Chicopee, Northampton, West Springfield, and Agawam being targeted. The total amount stolen was almost $8,000 in cash.
The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort between the Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and local law enforcement agencies including the Massachusetts State Police and the West Springfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Chicopee, Northampton, and Springfield Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of the Springfield Branch Office, led the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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