NYSP: Hudson Valley Adult Store Robbed to Cover Up Embezzlement
Shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, New York State Police responded to reports of an armed robbery at the Adult World Boutique located on Route 17m in New Hampton. A 911 call from the clerk indicated that two men entered the store brandishing handguns demanding cash. It was reported that approximately $2,800 in cash was stolen from a safe.
The men were seen by witnesses exiting the business holding handguns and fleeing in a light-colored Ford Focus. A short time later the vehicle was stopped by Village of Goshen Police on Route 17m in Goshen. The occupants were taken into custody by responding troopers and Goshen Officers.
The ensuing investigation by the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) determined that the robbery had been staged to cover the previous embezzlement of cash by the clerk who had originally called 911. Venessa Mirabel, age 47 of Middletown, employed as a clerk at the adult store had been stealing cash from the business over the course of the past month, authorities say.
A plan was hatched with three accomplices to stage a robbery of the business in an effort to hide the previous thefts, state police say. Anthony Williams age 22, Jesse Hocutt age 32, and Sabrina Williams age 25, all of Hurleyville, NY were arrested as a result of the investigation. Mirabel was also arrested.
All were charged with counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and misdemeanor conspiracy. Mirabel was charged with additional counts of grand larceny and providing a false written statement, a misdemeanor. All four were arraigned in the Town of Wallkill Court and remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of cash bail. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are expected.