Akiem Howard, Armed Robberies, New York 2020

A 22-year-old Syracuse man has pleaded guilty to two armed robberies in the city, according to authorities. Akiem Howard, 22, of Syracuse, was charged with robbing two convenience stores in Syracuse in December 2020.

According to the evidence presented in court, Howard robbed the first convenience store on December 13, 2020, and the second on December 21, 2020. During both robberies, Howard pointed handguns at store clerks. During the second robbery, Howard was accompanied by another alleged robber carrying a rifle, and while fleeing the store, Howard fired several rounds from his handgun at the store clerk, striking the other alleged robber in the leg.

As part of his guilty plea, Howard also admitted to committing three other armed robberies in Syracuse on December 19, 2020. The case was investigated by the Syracuse Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the SPD Intelligence Section, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

Akiem Howard faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 17 years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. Sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2022, before the Honorable Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York.

The case highlights the importance of community partnerships in reducing violent crime. The Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and other agencies worked together to bring Howard to justice. This case is a reminder that violent crime will not be tolerated in our community, and those who commit such crimes will be held accountable.

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