A Philadelphia gunman who wounded a deli store owner in a shooting with an AK-47 that took place in 2018 has been sentenced to 14 years and three months in prison.
Jovaun Patterson, 31, pleaded guilty to federal attempted robbery and weapons charges back in December of 2018, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The federal charges were brought against him after Patterson pleaded guilty to assault and robbery charges in exchange for a sentence of 3.5 years to 10 years in state prison.
William McSwain, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania discusses why federal prosecutors took over the case against Jovaun Patterson. https://t.co/uKmCCWArn4
— The Tornado News (@TheTornadoNews) August 14, 2020
U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain claimed the sentence was an example of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner offering “sweetheart deals to violent defendants.”
McSwain claimed the district attorney’s original plea deal with Patterson “sent a message that violent crime has little consequences.” McSwain also claimed the way Krasner handled the case was “symbolic of a larger catastrophe” in Philadelphia, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Hero Shoots Armed Robber In Epic Video)
Patterson was caught on tape shooting deli store owner Mike Poeng during an attempted robbery.
31 year old Jovaun Patterson is sentenced to 14 years in federal prison in connection with armed robbery and shooting in Philadelphia. https://t.co/HALOCuuLhx
— The Tornado News (@TheTornadoNews) August 13, 2020
McSwain claimed Patterson could have been walking free soon due to the plea deal cut with Krasner.
“Local authorities had literally bent over backwards to literally give him a break,” he said, according to 6ABC.
McSwain said this case is indicative of the increasing gun violence in the city.
“Last weekend alone 25 people in the city were shot. This slaughter in our streets has largely been met with indifference,” McSwain said, according to 6ABC.
