A spree of armed robberies has landed a Holyoke man behind bars for more than a decade. Alfredo Aldeco, 38, was handed a 13-year prison sentence yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni, after ripping off nine convenience stores across Western Massachusetts, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Aldeco's reign of terror, which amassed almost $8,000, came to a halt after he pleaded guilty to a series of charges including one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in March 2024. This plea came following the West Springfield incident where Aldeco, and Emilio Rivera, threatened a store clerk's life on Nov. 14, 2018. "If you call the cops, I will come back and kill you," Aldeco warned after forcing the clerk to hand over cash and cigarettes. The weapon was later discovered at Rivera’s residence, in a bedroom Aldeco occupied.
Tag-teaming with Rivera, Aldeco hit stores in Holyoke, Chicopee, Northampton, West Springfield and Agawam during a two-week period. The offenders brandished firearms in every incident, terrifying clerks and making away with the cash on hand. It wasn't until a later search of Rivera's home that law enforcement located the firearm used in their final robbery.
Rivera has already faced justice, being sentenced to six years in the slammer last year, and now he'll be joined by his partner in crime for a longer stretch. Following his prison term, Aldeco is sentenced to three years of supervised release and has been ordered to cough up restitution and forfeiture totaling $7,375. Combining the efforts of federal agents and local authorities, including the Massachusetts State Police and several local police departments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla led the prosecution, bringing the case to its conclusion.
