STATEN ISLAND — An ex-con who threatened to stab a CVS employee with a needle he said was infected with AIDS has been convicted, the Staten Island District Attorney announced.
Frank Andolina, 48, of Woodrow, was convicted Wednesday of attempted robbery and five other counts after a week-long trial. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, District Attorney Michael McMahon said.
"The defendant is now a convicted violent felon, and rightfully so, after his robbery attempt with a dangerous hypodermic needle,” McMahon said in a statement.
“His criminal actions quickly progressed in severity from shoplifting to almost stabbing someone and, for those reasons, society will be safer with him behind bars."
On Jan 21., 2015, Andolina was stuffing cold medicine in his backpack at the CVS at 250 Page Ave. when he was confronted by an employee.
When the employee tried to stop Andolina, he forcibly kept the medicine, then took a hypodermic needle out of his pocket and yelled "Let me go! I have AIDS! I will stab you," according to the DA.
He tried unsuccessfully to stab the worker before fleeing. He was later arrested, the DA said.
He has been arrested 47 other times and sent to prison four times for charges including robbery and grand larceny, according to the DA and the state Department of Corrections.
Andolina is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 11.
