Three sentenced for robberies

Three people have been sentenced for their roles in several Rochester-area armed robberies.

Jonathan Middlebrooks, 22, Nasir Perez, 20, and Deborah Siegel-Edelman, 22, all of Rochester, were convicted of aiding and abetting Hobbs Act robbery and sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

Middlebrooks and Perez were also convicted of aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm that was discharged during a crime of violence. Perez was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison. Middlebrooks was sentenced to serve 15 years and eight months. And Siegel-Edelman was sentenced to 12 years.

The defendants took part in four gunpoint robberies at Rochester stores between Sept. 3 and Sept. 23, 2017. The crimes garnered a total of about $5,000.

During the robbery of the Greyhound Express Mini Mart on Carter Street on Sept. 23, Middlebrooks, Perez, Miller, and Rutledge entered the store and a gun was pointed at the store owner.

After a struggle with the store owner a store employee removed the robber’s gun and pointed the gun at Middlebrooks, who put his hands up, but also moved forward towards the store employee.

After Middlebrooks took several steps towards the employee, the employee fired the gun, hitting Middlebrooks in the stomach and the robbers fled the scene in a car.