Three Virginia men have been sentenced to time in state prison for a 2022 armed robbery in Schenectady.

The victim was robbed at gunpoint. Schenectady Police caught the three men several hours later in a van driven by Radames Moya, 23, of Schenectady.

William Choate and Deshawn Cherry, who are both 21, and Rockym Alston, 19, admitted that they participated in a home invasion on Lexington Avenue in Schenectady on Jan. 29, 2022, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

Police recovered two loaded handguns in the vehicle.

Choate, Cherry and Alston pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon.

Alston was 17 at the time of the crime. However, the District Attorney’s Office opposed youthful offender status given the violent nature of the crime and Judge Matthew Sypniewski also denied the request.

The owner of the home that was burglarized made a victim impact statement:
“You stole more than change and jewelry. You stole my security, the calm and peacefulness of my life,” the victim said.

Moya is scheduled to be sentenced to five years in prison on March 19.