3 men charged in string of robberies

Three men were indicted in federal court Wednesday on charges in connection to a string of robberies at retail locations across the state, according to federal authorities.

Efrain Deleon, 58, and Gilberto Deleon, 56, both of New Britain, and Steven Galarza, 24, of Seymour, were each charged with eight counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobby Act Robbery, according to federal authorities. If convicted, the three face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years on each count.

The indictment alleges that fake firearms, designed to appear as real firearms, were used in eight robberies at convenience stores and smoke shops where cash, cigarettes and other items were stolen between late February and mid-march. According to federal authorities, locations included:

Feb. 27: Scott’s Village Mobil Gas Station, 843 Farmington Avenue, Farmington

March 2: Mystic Mobil Gas Station, 66 Whitehall Avenue,

Mystic

March 3: Shell Gas Station, 168 Bridge Street, East Windsor

March 3: Food Bag, 960 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Southington

March 5: Valero Gas Station, 1 Main Street, Ellington

March 5: Sunoco Gas Station, 446 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor

March 8: Smoker’s Discount World, 636 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield

March 16: Cove Smoke Market, located at 841 Cove Road, Stamford

All three were arrested April 19 on a federal criminal complaint from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Both Efrain and Gilberto Deleon are still in detention, according to federal authorities.

Galarza was released on a $50,000 bond.

The case is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, state police and local police departments in Farmington, Stonington, East Windsor, Southington, Windsor, Wethersfield and Stamford, according to federal authorities.