Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies and Fatal Shootings

Rodney Williams participated in four robberies and shot two victims in a single night across Jersey City; co-defendant previously sentenced.

Rodney Williams, 33, of Jersey City, has been sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for his involvement in a violent crime spree that included four armed robberies and two shootings in Jersey City, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court. In addition to the prison term, Williams was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Williams had pleaded guilty in December 2024 to a six-count indictment, including conspiracy and substantive charges related to Hobbs Act robbery, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The series of crimes occurred on the night of November 14, 2021. According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, the criminal activity began when Williams, acting alone, robbed a store at gunpoint. Shortly thereafter, Williams—now joined by his co-defendant Siobhan Chandler—robbed a gas station, during which Williams shot one of the attendants in the chest after a delay in compliance.

Later that evening, the pair entered a second store where Williams again threatened a clerk at gunpoint and fled with cash. Their final stop was a nearby restaurant, where Williams shot the cashier in the chest after the cashier did not immediately comply with his demands. In each instance, Williams used a firearm to threaten victims and forcibly obtain money before fleeing the scene with Chandler.

Chandler was previously sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release for her role in the crimes.

The investigation was led by the Jersey City Police Department, under Acting Chief Kearns, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also assisted in the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shontae D. Gray and Eli Jacobs of the Criminal Division in Newark prosecuted the case. The sentence underscores the federal government’s ongoing efforts to address violent crime through coordinated local and federal law enforcement partnerships.