Three Charged in Connection with September Robbery at Sherborn Pharmacy
SHERBORN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Sherborn Chief of Police Richard Thompson have confirmed that three men have been charged in connection with the masked armed robbery of a Walgreens Pharmacy in Sherborn on September 15, 2018.
Michael Viola, 55, of Revere; Joseph Graciale, 38, of Lynn and Adam Albanese, 41 of Salem have all been charged with two counts of masked armed robbery with a crowbar, two counts of masked armed robbery with a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, stealing by confining or putting a person in fear, trafficking over 200 grams of oxycodone, trafficking over 200 grams of morphine, trafficking over 36 grams of methadone, tracking over 18 grams of hydromorphone, possession with intent to distribute a class a substance (fentanyl), subsequent offense, possession with intent to distribute a class b substance (methylphenidate), subsequent offense and conspiracy to traffic in a derivative of opium.
The three men are all charged in connection with the joint venture robbery of a Walgreens Pharmacy in Sherborn on September 15, 2018. At approximately 8:06 a.m. two masked men allegedly entered the Pharmacy brandishing a hand gun and a crowbar. The men allegedly ordered the pharmacist to open the drug safe and also entered multiple aisles where pharmaceuticals were on the shelf allegedly stealing over 9,500 pills. The investigation revealed that the three men allegedly planned and executed the robbery by conducting surveillance and multiple visits to of the pharmacy in the weeks before.
Viola was arraigned today in Middlesex Superior Court. Judge Maureen Hogan set bail at $250,000. In addition, Viola’s bail was revoked on open cases out of Middlesex Superior Court and Norfolk County.
Albanese, 41 is expected to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court tomorrow.
Graciale is expected to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on Wednesday.
The three defendants were directly indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on Thursday, December 6, 2018. Viola and Albanese were arrested on Friday, December 7, 2018 with the assistance of Revere and Salem Police. Graciale is currently being held on an open case out of Essex County.
These charges are the result of a several month long investigation that was conducted by the Sherborn Police Department, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s Office with assistance from the Lynn Police Department, Natick Police Department, Revere Police Department, Salem Police Department, Swampscott Police Department and the Wellesley Police Department.
These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The prosecutor assigned to today’s arraignment was Assistant District Attorney Mary F.P. O’Neill.