Man Pleads Guilty to Bronx Armed Robbery Avoids Mandatory Remand Extraordinary Found

Man Pleads Guilty to Bronx Armed Robbery Avoids Mandatory Remand Extraordinary Found by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 23 – A man charged with one completed and another attempted armed robberies in The Bronx in February 2025 had a bail or jail proceeding on May 12 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court.   The AUSA asked for detention. The Federal Defender argued for bail. After taking a break, Judge Figueredo said he could be released, to his home in Pennsylvania, which he could leave daily to work for Champion Elevator.   The AUSA asked for a 24 hour stay, to appeal to the Part 1 Judge, Judge Oetken.  Judge Figueredo said a stay would not be necessary as meeting the conditions would take time.    In any event, Judge Oekten upheld the bond: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge J. Paul Oetken: Bond Hearing as to Nicholas Alcantara held on 5/12/2025. Defendant present with attorney Hannah McCrea, AUSA Joe Zabel present, Court Reporter: present. Magistrate Judge Figueredo's decision is affirmed with the modification that the defendant may maintain his non-stationary employment with his current employer," Champion Elevator. Up and down... On May 19, 2025the case was indicted and wheeled out to District Judge Rochon. Jump cut more than a year to June 22, 2026 when the Federal Defender wrote in that Alcantara intends to plead guilty on June 23 but asked in advance for bail sending sentencing, citing potential burdens on the family in Pennsylvania and the harsh conditions in the MDC. On June 23, Inner City Press went to the plea: Judge: Tell me what you did. Defendant: I robbed a gas station by brandishing a gun. I tried to rob a commercial parking lot and there, fired a gun. Judge: Multiple times? Defendant: Yes. AUSA: We have video. He took $300 from the gas station. He shot at a safe  Judge: Sentencing in September. AUSA: This is mandatory remand. Federal Defender: There isn't a ton of case law about exceptional circumstances. But the Court can factor in more than one reason. He is not a danger to the community or a risk of flight Judge: Tell me about the brandishing of the gun Federal Defender: He was under the influence of opioids. It was a very sad day. AUSA: He robbed a gas station and fired his gun at a safe. The MDC is safer now  Judge: Exceptional circumstances bar is high. How we are outside of it here? Federal Defender: Dozens of courts have done it. Their cases are 20 years old. Just last month an inmate died in the MDC.  Judge: I will not order remand at this time [Marshals leave]  It is USA v. Alcantara, 1:25-cr-229 (Rochon) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com SDNY Press Room 500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2025 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com