Rockland County District Attorney Announces Indictment in Gunpoint Robbery in Garnerville

District Attorney Tom Walsh announces that the Grand Jury of Rockland County has voted an indictment against Nelson Morales, 45, of Cliffside Park, NJ charging him with Robbery in the First Degree and Kidnapping in the Second Degree.  Morales is scheduled to be arraigned today, July 9th, 2025, before the Honorable Kevin J. Russo at 2:00 p.m. in the County Court of Rockland County.

On June 25, 2025, Nelson Morales entered the Finest Vape and Smoke Shop in Garnerville, New York wearing a mask over his face and visibly holding what appeared to be a pistol in his hand.  He proceeded to walk directly to the back area of the store where a sole employee was working.  Morales brandished the gun at the employee and demanded that he open a safe that was in the back room of the store.  The employee was on the floor and was not permitted to move except as instructed to by Morales.  The employee did not know the code to the safe, so the defendant forced him to the part of the store where the cash register was located and demanded that he open the register and give the defendant the money inside.  The employee, fearing for his life and unable to escape, complied.  The defendant also took several products from the back shelf and put it into a bag he had with him.  Morales proceeded to then flee the store with the bag containing the merchandise and approximately $800 in cash from the register.      

The incident was investigated by the Town of Haverstraw Police Department with assistance from the New York State Police and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department.  The defendant faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Peterson and Assistant District Attorney Daniella Harris.

*It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and that a defendant should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.