By: Richard L. Smith
A Jersey City man has admitted to participating in a string of violent crimes, including four robberies and two shootings, that occurred on the same night in November 2021.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Rodney Williams, 32, pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple charges, including Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and firearms offenses.
According to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, Williams carried out the crimes alongside his co-defendant, Siobhan Chandler, who was sentenced earlier this year to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release for her involvement.
Court records reveal that the crime spree began when Williams, acting alone, robbed a store at gunpoint.
Shortly afterward, he and Chandler targeted a gas station, where Williams shot one attendant in the chest when they failed to comply immediately.
The pair then robbed two additional businesses—a store and a restaurant—where Williams again wielded his firearm, shooting a cashier in the chest during the final robbery.
Both victims survived.
Williams faces significant penalties for his crimes. The Hobbs Act robbery charges each carry a potential 20-year prison term, while the firearms-related charges include mandatory minimum sentences of seven and ten years, which must run consecutively to any other sentence.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23, 2025.