NEW HAVEN – A federal jury found a man guilty of embarking on a nine-day robbery spree in 2020 that hit five gas stations throughout Connecticut, including one in Ansonia.
William Rosario Lopez, 39, was convicted on April 28 of four counts of obstructing interstate commerce via robbery, one count of attempted obstruction of interstate commerce, four counts of brandishing a firearm during a robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He faces between 28 years and life in prison.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Rosario Lopez began his spree on March 18, 2020. He walked into a gas station in Vernon that day wearing a black mask and pointed a silver pistol at an employee. After striking the employee in the back of the head, he forced the employee to hand over cash from the register.
Rosario Lopez then went on to hit two gas stations on March 22, 2020, in Southington and Waterbury.
Less than two hours after the Waterbury robbery – in the early hours of March 23 – Rosario Lopez arrived at the Shell gas station on Main Street in Ansonia. Wearing a surgical mask, he threatened to shoot an employee. Then, he fired a shot in the air.
“After the employee was unable to open the cash register quickly, Rosario Lopez fired one round in the direction of the employee and then fled,” the press release states.
The employee was not injured.
Rosario Lopez robbed one more gas station, in New Britain, on March 26, 2020.
Police arrested Rosario Lopez on April 9, 2020. They also arrested Solimar Rodriguez Gonzalez, who acted as a lookout during at least two of the robberies, the release states.
Rodriguez Gonzalez pled guilty to aiding and abetting the obstruction of interstate commerce via robbery on Jan. 21, 2025.
Rosario Lopez has been detained since his arrest. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The press release states the investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and police departments in Vernon, Southington, Waterbury, Ansonia, New Britain, New Haven, and Guilford.
