Royal Benjamin, Armed Robbery, Massachusetts 2023

Cambridge Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery

BOSTON - Royal Benjamin, a 64-year-old Cambridge man, has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for the armed robbery of the JP Wireless store in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

On March 20, 2023, Benjamin robbed an individual in the Downtown Crossing subway station of a bag containing two pairs of Puma sneakers. He then traveled to JP Wireless and offered to sell the sneakers to a store employee. When the employee stated he did not want to buy the sneakers, Benjamin removed a handgun from his waistband and rushed behind the counter, pointing the handgun at the store employee.

Benjamin took $594.00 in cash that was sitting on top of the register and removed the drawer, dropping it and its contents on the ground. He then fled the store, threatening to shoot the store employee. During a search of Benjamin's bedroom at a house in Cambridge, a loaded handgun was recovered.

Benedict has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1978, when he was 18 years old. His criminal record includes convictions for Strong Armed Robbery, Assault Dangerous Weapon, Armed Robbery, Manslaughter, Robbery, Possession of a Class B controlled Substance, and Larceny from a Person.

Benedict was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani on November 14, 2024. He will serve 70 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, and the Boston and Cambridge Police Departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/man-lengthy-criminal-record-sentenced-over-five-years-prison-march-2023-armed-robbery