Bronx Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years for Armed Deli Robberies in New York

A Bronx man's series of offenses came to a head as he faces a stiff penalty for his crimes, James Kelly, was handed down a 160-month prison sentence after robbing two local delis and brandishing a firearm during one of the incidents, according to the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the conviction followed after a four-day trial that concluded with a guilty verdict on two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm.

The brazen actions of Kelly, who is 32, were said to have terrorized workers and patrons in Bronx delis – his first robbery occurring on October 10, 2021, where he feigned a weapon to threaten a lone employee for cash, afterwards instructing the worker to lie down and threatening to "shoot the shit" out of him should he move, the subsequent deli robbery took place on January 15, 2023, escalated further when Kelly pointed an actual gun at two employees, demanding cash and using the similar threat, this time with the gun visibly in hand, before again forcing them to the ground, as per U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods delivered the sentence, adding to Kelly's prison term, three years of supervised release and ordering him to pay restitution and forfeit funds totaling $1,900, the sum robbed across both incidents, Matthew Podolsky who is currently the Acting U.S. Attorney, reinforced in his statements the intended severity of penalties violent offenders are to expect, crediting the thorough investigative work of the NYPD and his office investigators for bringing such cases to close.

“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,” Podolsky declared, as detailed in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, exemplifying the combined resolve of the legal system, from the streets where New York City Police Department Bronx Violent Crimes Squad took first stand to the chambers where prosecutors and paralegal specialists like Olivia Sebade work to advocate for those victimized by such violent acts.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connie L. Dang, Adam Z. Margulies, Georgia V. Kostopoulos, Katherine Cheng, and David R. Felton collaborated in the prosecution of Kelly.