WORCESTER – A local man received a 13-year federal prison sentence in court on Tuesday for robbery and drug charges.
A federal judge sentenced Junior Melendez, also known as “Junito”, 42, of Worcester, to 156 months in prison and eight years of supervised release in Worcester federal court.
Melendez was convicted of of conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine, after a trial in March 2022. In May 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a Hobbs Act robbery.
According to the Department of Justice, the Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce “in any way or degree.”
According to federal prosecutors, law enforcement intercepted communications in March 2019 that showed Melendez and three co-conspirators were organizing a robbery. The co-conspirators, Grace Katana, Keith Johnson, and Shaun Walker, are also of Worcester
On March 25, 2019, prosecutors say the four men were tracked travelling to the Rockland home of a person who sold glass marijuana smoking devices. They stopped at a store and Melendez and Katana purchased a crowbar, razor blades and an 8-inch screwdriver.
Law enforcement intervened and arrested Johnson and Walker after locating a loaded firearm in the vehicle. Melendez and Katana were released at the scene.
Prosecutors also say communications intercepted after the robbery show that Melendez was conspiring with five other individuals to buy a cocaine, convert it to crack, and distribute it in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Investigators identified over four kilograms of cocaine Melendez purchased or sold between March 2019 and Jun3 2019. Over 200 grams of cocaine was seized in New Hampshirein May 2019.
Prosecutors say the co-conspirators in the drug trafficking conspiracy with Melendez were Juan Rodriguez, Antoine Mack, Kevin Jean, Angel Cordova, and Carlos Richards.
Melendez’s co-defendants in the robbery conspiracy were convicted. Katana was sentenced to 64 months after a jury trial. Walker pladed guilty and sentenced to three years in prison. Walker pleaded guilty an is awaiting sentencing.
Melendez’s co-conspirators in drug trafficking met a similar fate. Juan Rodriguez was sentenced to 52 months and Kevin Jean was sentenced to 40 months, both after a jury trial. Antione Mack pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 54 months. Angel Cordova pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Carlos Richards is still a fugitive.
