Repeat Offender Sentenced 25 Years To Life In Oakland Gardens Nail Salon Robbery

An Ozone Park ambulette driver was sentenced to 25 to life in prison Wednesday for a December 2009 robbery of an Oakland Gardens nail salon, according to Queens DA Richard Brown.

Kevin Cheeks, 44, received the stiff sentence because of previous violent felony convictions on his record, the Queens DA said.

"With today’s sentence, the public can rest assured that the defendant, a persistent felony offender, will spend a lengthy time behind bars and no longer be a threat to society," Brown said. 

According to the Queens DA, police were able to track Cheeks after the Dec. 12, 2009 robbery at Shinki Nail Salon in Oakland Gardens using a GPS system, which came equipped in his choice of getaway vehicle — the ambulette he regularly drove as an employee of Sigma Transportation, Inc. of West Hempstead, L.I.

"He can use his time to think about how a simple GPS vehicle tracking device and a few mouse clicks led to his undoing," Brown said. "Such technology clearly gives new meaning to the old adage: ‘You can run but you cannot hide.'"

The Queens DA said Cheeks held-up the nail salon, located at 212-08 Union Tpke., at approximately 1 p.m., forcing four customers and three employees to the back of the store, threatening one woman with a cellphone that he would kill her if she tried to make a call.

Cheeks made off with personal valuables and money from the register, according to the Queens DA.

At the nail salon Thursday afternoon, Yin Chen, who was present during the 2009 robbery, reacted to Cheeks' sentencing.

"It's a good thing," she said.