Jared Stanley, a 33-year-old resident of Lindenwold, New Jersey, was sentenced to 130 months in prison and five years of supervised release for committing three armed robberies at corner stores in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood. United States District Judge John F. Murphy also ordered Stanley to pay $1,450 in restitution.
Stanley was indicted in March 2024 on charges that included Hobbs Act robbery, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. In August 2024, he faced two more counts of Hobbs Act robbery. He pleaded guilty to all charges in October 2024.
The three robberies took place over two weeks early this year. On January 21, Stanley entered the Birch Mini-Market on East Birch Street, pointed a gun at the cashier, and demanded money. When the cashier did not respond as expected, Stanley shouted at them before hitting the cashier repeatedly with his gun and taking about $550 from the register.
A week later on January 28, Stanley and an unidentified accomplice robbed Capricorno Grocery on East Orleans Street. Stanley used his firearm to threaten an employee by grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him away from others before striking him several times with his weapon. While Stanley kept watch over the employee, his partner stole around $500 from the register.
On February 2, both men targeted Bonifacios Grocery on Frankford Avenue. They forced an employee toward the cash register and ordered him to lie down before pistol-whipping him in the head. The pair took approximately $500 before fleeing.
United States Attorney David Metcalf commented: “This defendant terrorized store employees—hardworking members of our community—by threatening them with violence while stealing their hard-earned income.”
Metcalf continued: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to reduce violent crime throughout Philadelphia.”
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative involving law enforcement agencies at various levels alongside local communities to address violent crime and gun violence by building trust with residents, supporting organizations focused on prevention efforts, establishing targeted enforcement strategies, and monitoring outcomes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked alongside the Philadelphia Police Department during this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert prosecuted the case.
