Sayville man sentenced to 12 Years for armed robbery spree in Suffolk

A Sayville man who terrorized liquor and convenience store workers across Suffolk County — pointing a rifle at employees during a two-day armed robbery spree last fall — was sentenced Monday to 12 years behind bars.

Michael Perko, 52, targeted three businesses in Holtsville and Huntington Station over consecutive days in November 2025, forcing workers to stare down the barrel of a rifle — forcing workers to stare down the barrel of a rifle — twice in pre-dawn stickups and once on an evening shift, prosecutors said.

In a 4:10 a.m. holdup of a 7-Eleven on Nov. 12, he handed a worker a bag and demanded cash, cigarettes and lottery tickets. In the two others, which occurred the day before on Nov. 11, he fled the stores empty-handed only after workers refused or stalled him.

Police nabbed Perko on Nov. 12 at 9:39 p.m., as he was about to enter a second 7-Eleven. Investigators recovered lottery tickets, cigarettes, cash, a rifle, a cartridge and an ammunitions magazine from his car.

Perko pleaded guilty Feb. 4 to one count of first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree attempted robbery. In addition to the 12-year prison term, he received five years of post-release supervision at his sentencing on Wednesday.

“No community should have to live with the fear that their neighborhood stores will be targeted by an armed offender,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “Thanks to the quick work of Suffolk County police officers this defendant was caught before anyone was hurt.”

_{Top: Michael Perko}