Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Michael Rutledge on charges related to an armed robbery at a convenience store. The jury found Rutledge guilty of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from a February 10, 2023 incident where Rutledge and two accomplices committed a robbery at gunpoint. United States District Judge Frederic Block presided over the five-day trial.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced the verdict.
"Rutledge and his co-conspirators meticulously planned a violent robbery in a neighborhood convenience store in Clinton Hill," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "Thanks to exceptional investigative work by the ATF and the NYPD, the defendant was identified, apprehended, and rightly convicted today."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller emphasized the importance of law enforcement partnerships: "This conviction is a testament to the strength of New York City’s law enforcement partnerships and our shared commitment to protecting the public from violent gun crime."
NYPD Commissioner Tisch commented on Rutledge's role: "Michael Rutledge didn’t just act as a getaway driver—he aided and abetted violent criminals who held a store clerk at knifepoint." She added that today's verdict holds him accountable for his actions.
During the trial, evidence showed that Rutledge drove Angel Gomez and another accomplice from the Bronx to Clinton Hill in Brooklyn. Gomez displayed a gun while another accomplice wielded a knife during the robbery. Over $4,000 was stolen from cash registers. A customer was also pistol-whipped and shot.
Rutledge was arrested on June 21, 2023 after authorities executed a search warrant at his location in the Bronx. Clothing worn during the robbery was recovered.
Angel Gomez pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025 to Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He is awaiting sentencing while their other accomplice remains at large.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Simmons and Vincent M. Chiappini with support from Paralegal Specialist Matias Burdman and Criminal Investigations Unit Intelligence Research Specialist Ashley Hinkson.
Michael Rutledge is facing up to life imprisonment when sentenced.