Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that James Kelly has been sentenced to 160 months in prison. Kelly was convicted of robbing two delis in the Bronx, New York, and brandishing a firearm during one of these incidents. U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods imposed the sentence following a four-day trial where Kelly was found guilty of two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated: "James Kelly terrorized workers at local delis in the Bronx by threatening to shoot them, pointing a gun at them, and robbing them at their workplace. As today’s sentence shows, violent offenders who commit these heinous crimes will face harsh penalties. We thank our law enforcement partners for their determination in holding those who commit violent crimes, like Kelly, accountable and for their tireless pursuit of justice for victims."
The incidents occurred on October 10, 2021, when Kelly entered a deli with his hands in his pocket suggesting he had a gun. He threatened an employee working alone and demanded cash. After receiving money from the employee, he ordered him to lie on the ground under threat of being shot if he moved. On January 15, 2023, Kelly committed another robbery at a different deli in the Bronx where he pointed a gun at two employees and repeated similar threats while demanding cash.
In addition to his prison term, Kelly was sentenced to three years of supervised release and must pay $1,900 in restitution as well as forfeit $1,900.
Mr. Podolsky commended the investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department Bronx Violent Crimes Squad and other investigators involved.
The case is managed by the Office’s General Crimes Unit with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connie L. Dang, Adam Z. Margulies, Georgia V. Kostopoulos, Katherine Cheng, and David R. Felton leading the prosecution alongside Paralegal Specialist Olivia Sebade.
