Darth Vader gets year in prison

A man who donned a Darth Vader mask to rob a credit union and gas station was sentenced Monday to one year in prison.

Mostafa Abohassab, 33, of Wethersfield said he performed the robberies out of desperation after gambling away his life savings.

Abohassab pleaded no contest to first-degree robbery in the Sept. 11, 2005, robbery at E-Z Mart Mobil at 51 Old Hartford Road in Colchester.

He is already serving a 30-month sentence for the Sept. 12, 2005, robbery at Core Plus Credit Union in New London. He donned a Darth Vader mask and carried a B.B. gun in both robberies.

Because Monday's sentence is to run concurrent to his previous sentence, Abohassab will 30 months total for the two robberies. His maximum release date is July 18, 2008.

Abohassab told police he maxed out his credit cards and suffered losses of about $15,000 at an unidentified casino. He was arrested after the New London robbery at Mohegan Sun Casino.

Abohassab is an Egyptian native who is subject to deportation upon release.

Norwich Bulletin