Sayville Man Gets 12 Years for Convenience Store Robbery Spree

Michael Perko, 52, of Sayville, was sentenced to 12 years in prison last week after pleading guilty to an armed robbery spree that sent rifle-toting terror through Holtsville and Huntington Station businesses over a single November night and morning, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.

The spree unfolded within roughly 25 hours. Just after 4 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2025, Perko entered a Holtsville gas station wearing a dark multicolored ski mask, dark coat and black gloves, pointed a rifle at an employee, and demanded money. The worker threatened to call police, and Perko fled empty-handed. Later that same day, at approximately 7:52 p.m., he walked into a Holtsville liquor store, leveled the rifle at the cashier and ordered him to empty the register. When the cashier said there was only a small amount of money inside, Perko left again without any proceeds.

He succeeded on his third attempt. At about 4:10 a.m. on Nov. 12, Perko entered a 7-Eleven in Huntington Station, displayed a black rifle at the employee behind the counter, handed the worker a bag and demanded cash, cigarettes and lottery tickets. The employee complied before Perko fled the store.

Police caught up with Perko that same evening at approximately 9:39 p.m. as he was stepping into a second 7-Eleven. After his arrest, investigators recovered lottery tickets, cash, cigarettes, a rifle, a cartridge and an ammunition magazine from his vehicle.

Perko pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2026, to one count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, and two counts of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, both Class C felonies. On March 11, Suffolk County Court sentenced him to 12 years behind bars followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by the Legal Aid Society.

"This sentence reflects the serious harm that this defendant's crime spree inflicted on businesses and families across Suffolk County," Tierney said. "No community should have to live with the fear that their neighborhood stores will be targeted by an armed offender. These robberies erode the sense of safety and stability that our residents and business owners depend on every day.