NYPD: Staten Island man, 31, robbed, beat gas station worker; attacked 2nd victim

The alleged gas-station robbery occurred in the confines of the 120th Precinct. Here, the precinct stationhouse in St. George is shown in a file photo. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Authorities allege that a 31-year-old is responsible for a violent series of events over the spring and summer that include the robbery and beatdown of a worker at a gas station, unrelated assaults against a second man, and a separate case of credit-card fraud.

Joseph Romania of King Street in Eltingville allegedly escalated shoplifting to robbery at the Mobile gas station at 231 Bay St. at Hannah Street in Tompkinsville at 7:30 a.m. on June 30, according to the criminal complaint and police.

Romania allegedly removed various items from the shelves without paying for them. When an employee asked for payment, Romania refused and instead punched the worker several times in the chest before fleeing, the complaint alleges.

The suspect has been charged with robbery, assault, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and harassment in that matter.

On the morning of June 5, Romania allegedly send frightening text message including using a racial slur as he threatened bodily harm and death to a man and his family in New Dorp, according to the complaint.

“I’m coming to stab you in your f-----g neck,” are among the threats listed in the criminal complaint that the suspect allegedly made on a voicemail left for the victim. “Do you understand me you little rat n-----?”

The victim subsequently obtained a temporary order of protection against Romania, but that did not prevent the suspect from allegedly beating the victim at an apartment in Port Richmond on July 3. The suspect shattered a window to enter the apartment in the afternoon and then in the evening confronted the victim at the same location, the complaint alleges.

“I am going to kill you,” the complaint quotes Romania as saying. “I am going to f--- you up.”

The suspect then allegedly punched the victim in the face and ribs, causing substantial pain. The suspect also allegedly was caught inside the apartment on the afternoon of July 4.

In connection with these incidents, Romania has been charged with criminal contempt, burglary, aggravated criminal contempt, assault, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, aggravated harassment and harassment.

The complaint also alleges that Romania stole a credit card from a woman on the afternoon of June 10 around noon on the 100 block of Jewett Avenue near Castleton Avenue.

Less than an hour later, the suspect attempted to use the card inside a deli on Castleton Avenue in West Brighton, the complaint alleges.

He has been charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny for the credit-card incident.

Romania has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He is being held at Rikers Island in lieu of bond set at $300,004/$100,004. He is due back in Criminal Court on Sept. 8, according to public records.

An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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