40-year-old pleads in pharmacy robbery case

An Albuquerque man accused of stealing thousands of pills from a pharmacy recently pleaded guilty to armed robbery and drug charges in federal court.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in a news release issued Thursday said Joseph Matney, 40, faces seven to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty Feb. 4 to armed robbery of a pharmacy, theft of medical products and possession with intent to distribute the painkiller Oxycodone and sedative Alprazolam

Matney robbed an Albuquerque pharmacy Jan. 31, 2018, according to the plea agreement. He and a juvenile accomplice “held the employees at gunpoint and demanded opioid painkillers, anxiety pills and money from behind the counter” and “fled with more than 2,500 pills,” the release says.

Prosecutors said law enforcement in Denver arrested Matney the following month after searching his vehicle and finding 1,600 of the stolen prescription pills and a gun.