BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF ARMED ROBBERY-- JURY REJECTS DEFENDANT’S CLAIM THAT HIS PARTICIPATION WAS LINKED TO HIS ROLE AS A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT FOR FEDERAL AUTHORITIES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a one time confidential paid informant for federal drug enforcement authorities has been convicted of armed robbery in connection with a “home invasion” in November 2004.

Juan Medina, 24, of Yonkers, New York, was found guilty on one count of Robbery in the 1st degree, a Class B felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment. Medina is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, April 16, 2007 when he appears before State Supreme Court Justice David Stadtmauer in Part T-19.

The jury deliberated for four days before returning the guilty verdict. Jurors rejected Medina’s defense that he had participated in the crime with the knowledge and approval of agents at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The robbery occurred on November 23, 2004 when Medina and another man pushed their way into the victims’ apartment in the vicinity of Beekman Avenue. Medina and the other man gained access to the apartment by hiding while a female accomplice knocked on the door and pretended to be looking for an apartment. When Jose Oleaga opened the door slightly, the two men pushed their way inside. Oleaga managed to flee to seek help, with Medina’s alleged accomplice in pursuit. Medina remained in the apartment with Oleaga’s wife, Jenny Pena, and their two children. Medina herded the woman and children into a bedroom and closed the door after taking two cellular telephones and other property belonging to the couple.

The jury heard testimony that the victims, the owners of a used car dealership, had placed approximately $5,000 in cash in a dresser drawer and that the money was missing after the suspects left the premises. The money was never recovered, however, Medina was in possession of both cellular telephones , a .38 caliber handgun, duct tape and latex gloves, when police arrested him within minutes of responding to the robbery. Medina was taken into custody as he walked out of the building. When questioned by police at the scene Medina said that he had tried to prevent a robbery and that he was an informant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. However, D-E-A Special Agent Joseph Mercurio testified that Medina had been a paid informant but that he was not authorized to participate in the robbery nor did he inform the D-E-A that he knew a robbery was going to take place.

Medina’s alleged accomplices, Johnny Sanchez and Yuberkis Alvarez are still awaiting trial. Sanchez was apprehended more than a year after the robbery while Alvarez was taken into custody less than one month after the incident.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Denise Kodjo of the Rackets Bureau.