Jamaican National Charged With Committing Robbery In Mount Vernon And Discharging Firearm At Police While In Flight

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of a Complaint against Jamaican national JAMAIRE ROBERTSON in connection with the armed robbery of a gas station attendant working in Mount Vernon, New York, in the early morning hours of August 29, 2025. ROBERTSON was arrested the same day and presented in Manhattan federal court on Saturday, August 30, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine A. Parker, who ordered him detained.

"As alleged, Jamaire Robertson committed a terrifying gunpoint robbery of a gas station attendant and then, minutes later, shot at police officers trying to stop him on a residential street in Mount Vernon," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Those willing to use guns and violence to terrorize our community and put law enforcement lives at risk should expect to face serious consequences. Anyone who disrupts the safety of New Yorkers and the dedicated officers responsible for keeping us all safe will be swiftly brought to justice."

"Jamaire Robertson and his associate allegedly robbed a local gas station employee by brandishing firearms to forcefully steal the victim's wallet, and Robertson allegedly fired upon officers," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. "Not only did Robertson's alleged actions terrorize a random citizen for a nominal payout, but they also recklessly endangered the lives of local law enforcement officers. This arrest reflects the FBI's enduring determination to apprehend any armed criminal through Operation Summer Heat, so our communities are protected from unnecessary acts of violence."

As alleged in the Complaint filed on August 30, 2025, in White Plains federal court:^[1]

On the morning of August 29, 2025, ROBERTSON and an associate ("Suspect-2") exited a vehicle registered to ROBERTSON parked near ROBERTSON's apartment in the Bronx and set out together on foot at approximately 5:19 a.m. toward a gas station on Mount Vernon Avenue in nearby Mount Vernon.

At approximately 5:29 a.m., ROBERTSON and Suspect-2, each brandishing a handgun, violently robbed the gas station's attendant, stealing approximately $500-$600 in cash on the victim's person along with the victim's wallet. The robbery was captured on video surveillance.

The perpetrators fled the gas station and separated, with ROBERTSON seeking cover on a residential street in Mount Vernon near its border with the Bronx. There, ROBERTSON was observed in flight by New York City Police Department ("NYPD") officers who were aware of the gas station robbery that had taken place minutes before. When the NYPD officers sought to approach ROBERTSON, he opened fire with his handgun and fled, discarding his weapon and a black hooded sweatshirt he wore during the robbery, which were recovered from the scene.

Security camera footage from ROBERTSON's apartment building captured him returning home in his underwear and a t-shirt at approximately 6:25 a.m. and disposing additional articles of clothing down his building's trash chute later that day, before his arrest.

If you have information to report regarding this robbery, please contact the FBI through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or by completing its online tip form at tips.fbi.gov.

* * *

ROBERTSON, 28, a Jamaican national, is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. ROBERTSON is also charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which carries an additional mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any other prison term imposed.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarlitto is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.