Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man today admitted robbing five people at a North Side social club in May. Tommy Downing, 36, of 119 E. Matson Ave., pleaded guilty before Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi to five felony counts of first-degree robbery. He admitted acting together with another man to commit the holdup May 6 at a private social club...
Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man today admitted robbing five people at a North Side social club in May.
Tommy Downing, 36, of 119 E. Matson Ave., pleaded guilty before Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi to five felony counts of first-degree robbery.
He admitted acting together with another man to commit the holdup May 6 at a private social club in the 300 block of North Salina Street.
The plea deal calls for Downing to be sentenced Oct. 26 to 10 years in state prison. He could have faced a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison for his role in the heist.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Kasmarek said the victims were playing cards when Downing and the second suspect came in and committed the robbery. The prosecutor said Downing pulled a gun and pistol-whipped a couple of the victims before he and his companion stole money and jewelry from the five victims.
Defense lawyer Patricia Campbell said one gun was involved in the holdup and it apparently was passed back and forth by Downing and the second suspect during the heist.
That second suspect, Willie Hill, 35, of 114 Crippen Place, also was in court today. Aloi offered him the same 10-year prison deal and gave him until Friday to make a decision on whether to accept it and plead guilty.
As part of Downing's plea deal, Kasmarek agreed there would be no prosecution of Downing in connection with a January street robbery that was under investigation but for which no charges had yet been filed.