Michigan resident Kristopher Kukola was sentenced to 63 months for robbing several CVS pharmacies in Van Buren Township, Saline, and Milan, Michigan, before being arrested with the help of a decoy pill bottle.
Kukola, 39, robbed several CVS pharmacies in the same manner:
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- Demanding prescription pills.
- Brandishing what the victims believed to be a gun.
- Ordering employees to lay on the floor
Court documents say Kukola robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Van Buren Township by reaching into a pocket of his jacket and stating, “I’m armed,” and showed the handle of what the victim believed to be a black gun before directing one of the victims to lay on the ground.
On June 2, 2022, the 39-year-old robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Saline. This time, Kukola presented the victims with a list of medications and demanded that an employee give him everything on the list.
He again displayed what appeared to be a black handgun and demanded that the victims lay on the floor.
On June 8, 2022, Kukola returned from the first robbery to the Van Buren CVS. He handed a list of prescription drugs to an employee, saying, “Put everything on the list in the bag, or I will start shooting. I have a gun.”
Kukola’s final robbery was on July 7, 2022, when he robbed a CVS in Milan, Michigan.
Court documents say he handed an employee a list of prescription pills. But this time, the employee placed a decoy pill bottle with GPS tracking into Kukola’s bag.
The tracking device allowed officials to follow Kukola, ultimately leading to his arrest.
Kukola was sentenced to 63 months in prison.
“Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to addressing violent crime and protecting our community from the dangerous diversion of prescription drugs.” said U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “No one should have to fear for their lives because they work in a pharmacy, and I commend the quick thinking of the pharmacy employee in giving the defendant the decoy pill bottle that ultimately led to his arrest.”
“This case serves as an example of the FBI’s relentless efforts to track down violent offenders who resort to fear and violence to steal dangerous prescriptions for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan.
“I want to thank Detroit’s Violent Crimes Task Force for their diligent work identifying and capturing the defendant. The FBI is committed to pursuing those who engage in illegal activities that ruin the lives of Michigan residents.”
