Repeat Offender Randall Gets 25+ Years for Philly Robberies

PHILADELPHIA – Anthony Randall, 39, a career criminal known on the streets of Philadelphia, will spend the next 25 years and 19 days behind bars after a federal judge delivered a harsh sentence for a brazen string of armed robberies. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage handed down the penalty today, followed by five years of supervised release, effectively locking up a man who seemingly learned nothing from his previous six-year stint in federal prison.

Randall, also known as “Anthony McZeal,” pleaded guilty in March to two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce – a violation of the Hobbs Act – and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stemmed from two specific incidents: the September 1, 2021, gunpoint robbery of a CVS store at 1600 Wadsworth Avenue, and the September 11, 2021, holdup of a Philadelphia Pretzel Factory at 1555 Wadsworth Avenue. But those were just the ones he was initially charged with.

The scope of Randall’s criminal spree was far wider. In a stunning admission, Randall confessed to carrying out a total of 17 armed robberies throughout the fall of 2021. He’d barely been back on the streets for six months following his March 2021 release from his prior federal incarceration when he began terrorizing local businesses and their employees with a firearm. This wasn’t a crime of desperation; it was a calculated return to a life of violence.

“Anthony Randall terrorized the community during his extreme armed robbery spree — all while on supervised release for his previous string of gunpoint crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “Prosecuting committed offenders like this is a priority for my office. We’ll continue to get violent criminals off the street and make Philadelphia safer.” The message is clear: repeat offenders will face the full weight of the law, even if it means decades in prison.

Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, echoed Metcalf’s sentiment. “No one should have to live or work in fear,” Jacobs said. “Armed robberies don’t just endanger lives, they erode the sense of safety that every person deserves. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: the FBI is unwavering in its commitment to protecting our communities and holding violent offenders accountable for their actions.”

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Miller and Amanda Reinitz skillfully prosecuted the case, securing a conviction and a sentence that, while lengthy, may finally offer some measure of relief to a city weary of gun violence. But for the residents of Philadelphia, the question remains: how many times will this cycle of crime and punishment repeat itself?

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