A Cambridge man with a substantial history of criminal activities has been sentenced to serve over five years in federal prison following an armed robbery last year. Royal Benjamin, 64, was charged with the robbery of JP Wireless store in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, which occurred on March 20, 2023. According toUnited States Attorney’s Office, Judge Indira Talwani handed down a 70-month sentence last Thursday.
Prior to the robbery at JP Wireless, on the same day, Benjamin stole a bag containing two pairs of Puma sneakers from an individual at the Downtown Crossing subway station. He then attempted to sell the shoes to an employee at the store, and when the offer was declined, Benjamin resorted to violence. Displaying a handgun, he demanded cash and threatened the employee. Court records detail how Benjamin’s fingerprints were discovered on the scene, more specifically on the cash register drawer he dropped during the robbery. Later on, a loaded handgun was found in his bedroom during a police search. The recovery of this firearm tied Benjamin to the crime, leading to his eventual guilty plea in August.
Benjamin’s criminal record traces a long path back to 1978, when he was 18 years old. His offenses range from strong-armed robbery to manslaughter and drug possession. Over the years, he has faced numerous convictions in various district and superior courts, resulting in a composite sentence that spans decades. His most recent legal entanglement, prior to the JP Wireless incident, was a conviction for larceny from a person in 2024, adding a brief 90-day term to his extensive rap sheet. The FBI, along with several local law enforcement agencies and district attorney’s offices, played a crucial role in bringing the case to a close.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division, announced the sentence. They acknowledged the collaboration between the FBI and local police departments, including the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Police Department, Suffolk County District Attorney s Office, and both Boston and Cambridge Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and David G. Tobin, of the Major Crimes Unit, were credited for prosecuting Benjamin’s case.
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