Michael Nixon, 31, of Philadelphia, was convicted at trial of robbing a Kensington pharmacy at gunpoint, United States Attorney David Metcalf announced on Mar. 20. Nixon was found guilty of robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The case centers on an incident that took place on December 22, 2021. According to evidence presented at trial, Nixon forced a pharmacy employee back into the store as the employee was heading to their car. Once inside, Nixon demanded access to the controlled substances safe and ordered the employee to fill plastic bags with narcotics while pointing a black firearm at them and urging them to hurry.
After obtaining bottles of drugs from the safe, Nixon fled the scene and entered a waiting blue Dodge Charger. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department’s Narcotics Strike Force witnessed Nixon leaving the store and attempted to stop the vehicle. The Charger sped away, leading police on a high-speed chase through city streets. During this pursuit, officers saw what appeared to be medicine bottles being thrown from the vehicle.
The chase ended after a minor accident on Janney Street in Philadelphia. Both Nixon and the driver were taken into custody by police. Officers later recovered multiple bottles of controlled substances along the route traveled by the suspects; these included alprazolam tablets and methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets matching those stolen from the pharmacy.
Nixon is scheduled for sentencing on July 8 and faces up to life in prison if given the maximum penalty allowed by law.
The investigation was conducted by the Philadelphia Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stram and Justin Oshana are prosecuting the case.
