Michigan Man Sentenced to 63 Months for String of CVS Pharmacy Robberies

Michigan Man Sentenced to 63 Months for String of CVS Pharmacy Robberies

DETROIT – Kristopher Kukola, 39, was sentenced to 63 months in prison yesterday for robbing several CVS pharmacies in Van Buren Township, Saline, and Milan, Michigan, before being arrested with the help of a decoy pill bottle, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Kukola robbed several CVS pharmacies in the same manner: demanding prescription pills, brandishing what the victims believed to be a gun, and ordering employees to lay on the floor. On the night of May 24, 2022, Kukola robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Van Buren Township, Michigan. He reached into a pocket of his jacket and stated, “I’m armed,” and showed the handle of what the victim believed to be a black handgun. He then directed one of the victims to lay on the ground.

On June 2, 2022, Kukola robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Saline, MI. This time, Kukola presented the victims with a list of medications and demanded that an employee give him everything on the list. He again displayed what appeared to be a black handgun and demanded that the victims lay on the floor.

Kukola’s final robbery was on July 7, 2022, when he robbed a CVS in Milan, Michigan. Again, he handed an employee a list of prescription pills. But this time, the employee placed a decoy pill bottle with GPS tracking into Kukola’s bag. The tracking device allowed law enforcement to follow Kukola, and ultimately led to his arrest.

“Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to addressing violent crime and protecting our community from the dangerous diversion of prescription drugs,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “No one should have to fear for their lives because they work in a pharmacy, and I commend the quick thinking of the pharmacy employee in giving the defendant the decoy pill bottle that ultimately led to his arrest.

This case was investigated by the Ann Arbor Police Department, Van Buren Township Police Department, Saline Police Department, Milan Police Department, Michigan State Police, and the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Bean and Jasmine Moore.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen J. Murphy sentenced Kukola to 63 months in prison. Kukola’s string of robberies left a trail of fear and disruption in the communities he targeted.