2 Men Charged in Recent Armed Robberies

The Northampton County District Attorney’s office has announced charges against two men who are accused of committing three recent armed robberies in the City of Bethlehem and suspected in others around the Lehigh Valley. The office said that since late October “there have been a number of similar armed robberies” at gas stations and convenience stores in Hellertown, Wilson borough, Bath and Allentown, and that it expects charges related to those investigations to be filed.

According to a news release, Jeniel Rivera Gotay, 24, of Bethlehem, and Luis Vega-Gonzalez, 20, of Allentown, were arrested Tuesday after they allegedly robbed Sunoco Quickfill and Service at 2960 Linden St., Bethlehem, around 1:30 a.m. Bethlehem Police were reportedly surveilling the business at the time and observed the men enter the store before “running out (of it) carrying bags” and getting into an Acura.

The DA’s office said that when police tried to stop the car, its driver rammed their surveillance vehicle and the men tried to flee on foot before being taken into custody a short distance away.

“A search warrant of the Acura…led to police recovery of evidence linking both men to the multiple robberies,” the release said.

Police said Tuesday’s robbery of the Sunoco station occurred nine days after the same business was allegedly robbed by Rivera Gotay and Vega-Gonzalez. The men are also charged in the Nov. 5 armed robbery of the Racetrack gas station at 2350 Linden St., Bethlehem.

Both men are facing charges of Felony 1 robbery, Felony 2 aggravated assault, Felony 3 theft, Felony 3 receiving stolen property and various misdemeanors. According to the news release, Vega-Gonzalez was initially hospitalized for injuries suffered in the accident, but was released and remanded to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $1 million bail.

Rivera Gotay remained hospitalized as of Wednesday afternoon, but is expected to be arraigned shortly, authorities said.

Vega-Gonzalez is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing before District Judge Vivian Zumas at 9 a.m. Nov. 26, according to the docket filed in his case.

A preliminary hearing had not yet been scheduled for Rivera Gotay, and as of Wednesday afternoon the dockets did not list attorneys for either man.

The district attorney’s office praised the Bethlehem Police Department and its criminal investigations and vice units for their work in capturing the suspects.

Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using information provided by the Northampton County District Attorney’s office and Northampton County court records.