Authorities arrest 2 in robberies

A man who told a deputy he “came to America to become a millionaire” was one of two people arrested in two convenience store robberies this week in a joint investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Orlando Police Department.

Witelson Abel, 22, and Lovensky Exilas, 23, were charged this week with armed robbery of two 7-Elevens after sheriff’s deputies told police about an earlier arrest in which the suspects’ car, clothing and other items matched that of the other robbery.

Orange County deputies said Abel reportedly walked into the 7-Eleven store at 11:10 p.m. Friday at 8269 Clarcona Ocoee Road, pointed a gun at the cashiers and told them not to say anything, according to court documents.

After the two employees gave him cash from the register, Abel ran out and got into a silver Nissan Altima driven by Exilas, records show.

Deputies tried to apprehend the suspects, who led them on a three-mile car chase east on Clarcona Ocoee Road, south on North Pine Hills Road and then to the 5000 block of Liming Avenue, where they were arrested and taken to the Orange County jail, according to the arrest affidavit.

During the pursuit, someone tossed a duffel bag containing a semiautomatic handgun, a firearm magazine, ammunition, a black bandana, a black ski hat, black gloves and cash out of the car. The $453 deputies found on the 5000 block of Cassatt Avenue matched the amount Abel took from the 7-Eleven store, deputies wrote in the report.

Some of the items, as well as Abel’s clothing, also matched the descriptions of the suspects in a June 6 armed robbery, authorities say.

In that incident, Orlando Police Department officers arrived at the 7-Eleven at 5570 N. Orange Blossom Trail around 1:36 a.m. shortly after a reported armed robbery.

According to a store employee and video surveillance, two suspicious men first entered the 7-Eleven.

One of them bought several things, then exited the store, according to a police report.

Then one of the men returned, pointed a gun at an employee and asked for money. After collecting about $100 from three cash registers, he left.

A witness told officers he saw the man get into a silver Nissan Altima, according to the report.

Abel and Exilas face numerous charges, including armed robbery with a firearm while wearing a mask. They are being held without bond.

After his arrest, a sheriff’s office detective reported in a statement that Abel told him he “came to America to become a millionaire,” but began robbing people and businesses when he lost his job, according to an arrest record.