Posted on: February 28, 2025 09:40 AM

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Bronx man sentenced to 160 months in prison for robberies and firearms offense

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMES KELLY was sentenced today to 160 months in prison for robbing two delis in the Bronx, New York, and pointing a gun at deli workers during one of the robberies.  KELLY’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who also presided over a four-day trial after which KELLY was convicted of two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in connection with one of the robberies.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said:  “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.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment, the evidence presented during the trial and court proceedings, court filings, and statements made in court proceedings:

On October 10, 2021, KELLY entered a deli in the Bronx with his hands in his pocket, purporting to have a gun.  KELLY approached a deli employee working alone in the store, threatened to shoot him, and demanded cash.  After the deli employee gave KELLY cash, KELLY ordered the deli employee to get down on the ground and said that if the employee moved, he would “shoot the shit” out of the employee.  15 months later, on January 15, 2023, KELLY robbed another deli in the Bronx, pointed a gun at two deli employees, again demanded cash and threatened to shoot them, and again ordered them to get on the ground.

In addition to the prison term, KELLY, 32, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,900 and forfeit $1,900.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department Bronx Violent Crimes Squad and the investigators of the Office.

From DOJ