A Philadelphia man, Chihean Jones, also known as “Cha,” was convicted by a federal jury of two commercial robberies and the murder of a gas station attendant during one of those incidents. The announcement was made by United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Jones, 40, faced charges in a second superseding indictment issued in January 2024. He was found guilty on all counts, including two counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce under the Hobbs Act, murder committed while using and carrying a firearm, and using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 22, 2022, Jones drove two men to a cell phone store located on East Olney Avenue. While he waited outside in his Chevrolet Suburban, the other men entered the store, forced their way into a back room, and stole several cell phones before fleeing with Jones.
The trial also revealed that on January 17, 2023, Jones—accompanied by his girlfriend and two other men—drove to a gas station on Torresdale Avenue with plans to rob it. Their plan involved waiting for the gas station attendant to step outside for a cigarette so that Jones could approach him with his .45-caliber pistol while the others restrained him and forced him back inside to open the safe.
When the attendant did not leave the store as expected, Jones’s girlfriend went inside to assess the situation. After she returned with information about access to the register area, Jones and both men entered. Upon entry, Jones pushed his pistol under protective glass and shot the attendant in the back as he attempted to flee. The group then ransacked the store and took the dying attendant’s wallet.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 26. Jones faces up to life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by both the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Parisi and Amanda McCool are prosecuting.
