A Mastic man was sentenced to 15½ years in prison after pleading guilty in March to committing four gunpoint robberies of gas station convenience stores spanning from Ronkonkoma to Massapequa in December 2023 and to a robbery and shooting at a poker game in Sayville in March 2024.
From December 2, 2023 to the early morning hours of December 3, 2023, Josue Bedell, Jr. coordinated the acquisition of a firearm, inconspicuous clothing, and a stolen Dodge Charger vehicle to be used in a string of gunpoint robberies of gas stations and convenience stores. The robberies began in Ronkonkoma and steadily moved west over an approximate one-hour span, eventually ending in Massapequa in Nassau County.
The first robbery occurred on December 3, 2023 at approximately 1:35 a.m. Bedell entered into the Bolla Market in Ronkonkoma, held the clerk at gunpoint, demanded money, and fled with approximately $1,000 in cash.
About 20 minutes later, at 1:55 a.m., Bedell entered the BP Gas Station in Hauppauge, held the clerk at gunpoint, demanded money, and fled with about $1,200 in cash.
Less than 30 minutes later, at 2:23 a.m., Bedell picked up an accomplice in the Dodge Charger and entered a 7-Eleven convenience store in Amityville. Once inside, Bedell jumped over the counter, held the clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from the cash register. Bedell was driven away from the store in the waiting Dodge Charger with approximately $800 in cash.
Just six minutes later, at 2:29 a.m., Bedell and the accomplice drove to a Bolla Market in Massapequa. Once inside, Bedell jumped over the counter, held the clerk at gunpoint, and demanded money from the cash register. Bedell and the accomplice drove away with approximately $600 in cash.
After the fourth robbery, members of the Nassau County Police Department began to pursue the Dodge Charger but found it abandoned after it crashed into a tree on the lawn of a residence in Wantagh. Items recovered from the vehicle and crash scene included Bedell’s cellphone, clothing, and some of the cash proceeds from the robberies. DNA analysis of the driver’s airbag deployed during the crash returned a match to Bedell.
Then, on March 31, 2024, Bedell and an accomplice, armed with a loaded and operable firearm, entered into a home in Sayville where a poker game was being held. The pair held the occupants at gunpoint and stole money and jewelry from them. During the robbery, another player arrived at the door. When that player tried to enter the residence, Bedell fired at least two shots at the player, striking him, and then fled from the scene. The player sustained multiple injuries requiring medical attention.
On March 27, 2026, Bedell, 24, pleaded guilty to the following charges before Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr.:
- five counts of Robbery in the First Degree, Class B violent felonies
- one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony
- two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies
- one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony
- one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony
On April 29, 2026, Bedell was sentenced to 15½ years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
“In a single night, this defendant went on a crime spree, robbing four businesses at gunpoint across two counties. Months later, he walked into a private home and shot an innocent man,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “No one should fear for their life going about their night and no community should be subjected to this kind of brazen violence. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners whose thorough work helped us serve justice for this defendant.”