A Philadelphia man has been handed a 17-year sentence following his involvement in a violent armed robbery and the planning of what could have been an equally violent attempted home invasion. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Willie Singletary, also known as “Woo,” age 33, will serve this recent federal time consecutive to his current 10 to 30-year state sentence. U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe was the one to decide Singletary's fate in a series of events that rattled the Philadelphia community.
Details emerged from the court filings that laid out how, in November 2019, Singletary, alongside Shaquan Brown and another accomplice, set out to violently rob a local laundromat and its attached residence. The trio, each armed, forced their way into the business and assaulted an employee before making off with around $30,000 intended for renovations. Following this, Singletary proceeded to give Brown advice on how to thoroughly track another potential victim for an upcoming crime—an act which culminates in Brown's capture by police during the failed invasion attempt as the home's alarm system triggered a timely law enforcement response.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf was quoted in the release, stating, "What Singletary and his buddies put their victims through was terrifying. Being menaced at gunpoint and then physically assaulted is something they’ll likely never forget. All because the defendant would rather steal other people’s money than make an honest living of his own." Reflecting the severity of Singletary's crimes, this sentence aims to serve as a reminder that such violent crimes will be met with stringent punishments.
The prosecution's efforts were part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that has been recently reinforced to curb violent crime and gun violence. This integrated law enforcement strategy is supported by community-based collaboration, a focus on strategic enforcement priorities, and an initiative to measure its results in making neighborhoods safer. Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division, commended the partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office, committing to ensuring justice for the victims and declaring that, "Singletary is now going to federal prison where he will no longer endanger his neighborhood." The case, driven by these joint efforts, highlights a clear message that violent offenders will be pursued and duly convicted.
The court's decision is the result of an investigation spearheaded by the ATF, with Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony J. Carissimi and J. Jeanette Kang leading the prosecution. As reflected in this case's outcome, the extended arm of justice continues to endeavor to provide peace of mind to citizens and establish a deterrence for those who consider engaging in such criminal pursuits.
