Jovaun Patterson, Federal Attempted Robbery, Pennsylvania 2018

Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Attempted Robbery and Firearms Charges

A Philadelphia man, Jovaun Patterson, 30, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempted robbery and firearms charges after a shocking plea deal was negotiated by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on state charges.

Patterson entered a guilty plea before United States District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg on charges of one count of attempted robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (known as Hobbs Act robbery), and one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The crime dates back to May 5, 2018, when Patterson attempted to rob the KCJ, Inc. convenience store, shooting the store owner, Li (“Mike”) Poeng, with an assault rifle, leaving him in a coma and eventually confined to a wheelchair.

Before federal prosecutors filed these charges by Indictment in February 2019, Patterson was arrested by Philadelphia police for the May 5, 2018 incident and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery–threat of immediate serious injury, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a firearm on a street in Philadelphia, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, and reckless endangerment of another person.

On November 15, 2018, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office permitted Patterson to enter a negotiated guilty plea to charges of only aggravated assault, robbery–threat of immediate serious injury, and possession of an instrument of crime, with a sentence of 3 ½ to 10 years’ imprisonment, a lenient plea deal in line with the soft-on-crime priorities of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

“Violent crime is a severe and growing problem in Philadelphia, and fighting that trend is a top priority of my Office,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. “The Philadelphia District Attorney, Mr. Krasner, does not share that priority – preferring to look out for violent offenders like Mr. Patterson, who received a ridiculously lenient plea deal because of Mr. Krasner. I can assure the citizens of Philadelphia that my Office sees the problem and is working hard to do what we can to stem the rising tide by bringing federal charges when we are able, which is what occurred here. Now, this defendant will face a potential sentence that reflects the severity of his crime.”

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The case was investigated by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Salvatore L. Astolfi.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/philadelphia-man-pleads-guilty-federal-attempted-robbery-and-firearms-charges-after