Hempstead Holdup Suspect Pleads Guilty

Alleged Tren de Aragua gang member faces 8 years in prison for 2024 robbery and shooting

Published on Feb. 2, 2026

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A 22-year-old Washington Heights man, Frederick Morillo Chavez, has pleaded guilty to his role in a 2024 robbery and shooting in Hempstead, New York. Prosecutors allege Chavez was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang and was involved in the incident where a woman was shot in the arm after resisting the robbery. As part of the plea deal, Chavez is expected to be sentenced to 8 years in prison and 5 years of post-release supervision.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing problem of gang violence and robberies in the Long Island region, with the Tren de Aragua gang being a particular concern for law enforcement. The incident also raises questions about bail reform policies and whether repeat offenders are being adequately monitored and held accountable.

The details

According to prosecutors, Chavez and an accomplice, Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, approached a woman near a bus stop in Hempstead just after midnight on May 22, 2024. They robbed her at gunpoint, with Castro Mata shooting the woman in the arm when she resisted. The two men then fled the scene on a moped. Chavez was arrested a year later in May 2025, while Castro Mata was arrested shortly after the incident for shooting two NYPD officers in Queens.

  • The robbery and shooting occurred just after midnight on May 22, 2024.
  • Chavez was arrested and charged in May 2025.
  • Castro Mata was arrested and charged in the Hempstead robbery on June 10, 2025, the same day he was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the Queens police shooting.

The players

Frederick Morillo Chavez

A 22-year-old Washington Heights man who pleaded guilty to his role in the 2024 Hempstead robbery and shooting. Prosecutors allege he was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Bernardo Raul Castro Mata

The alleged accomplice of Chavez who shot the woman during the Hempstead robbery. He also pleaded guilty to shooting and wounding two NYPD officers in Queens less than two weeks after the Hempstead incident.

Anne Donnelly

The Nassau County District Attorney who prosecuted the case against Chavez and Castro Mata.

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What they’re saying

“This was a senseless, violent attack on a woman returning home from work. When she fought for her own safety, Bernardo Raul Castro Mata tried to silence her with a gunshot. Thankfully, she survived this terrifying encounter.”

— Anne Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney

What’s next

Chavez is expected to be sentenced on March 16 to 8 years in prison and 5 years of post-release supervision.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of gang violence and the need for continued law enforcement efforts to address robberies and shootings in the Long Island region, as well as the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable through the criminal justice system.