Carson man pleads to pharmacy robbery

A Carson City man may serve as many as 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to the attempted robbery of a pharmacy.

Francis Xavier Pizzo, 34, faces sentencing in December in District Judge Michael Griffin's courtroom. Griffin said the admission guarantees that "you will not get probation from me."

Pizzo was caught shortly after he walked into Medicap pharmacy on Curry Street in September. He handed over a note demanding prescription drugs and had a hand in his pocket, intimating that he was armed, investigators have said.

No weapon was found.

Workers at another pharmacy helped catch Pizzo who had reportedly attempted to fill a fraudulent prescription. Several hundred tablets were stolen from Medicap.

"I spoke to both of the ladies behind the counter and there was reason to believe he had a weapon," prosecutor Matt Jensen said.

Pizzo is being represented by public defender Mike Roth.