A Philadelphia man has been found guilty in federal court of two commercial robberies and the murder of a gas station attendant during one of those incidents, according to an announcement by United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Chihean Jones, also known as “Cha,” age 40, was convicted on all counts by a federal jury. The charges included two counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce under the Hobbs Act, murder committed while using and carrying a firearm, and use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The indictment was issued in January 2024.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on August 22, 2022, Jones drove two men to a cell phone store located on East Olney Avenue in Philadelphia. While Jones waited outside in his Chevrolet Suburban, the other men entered the store, forced their way into a back room, and stole several cell phones before fleeing the scene with Jones.
Further evidence indicated that on January 17, 2023, Jones drove his Suburban with his girlfriend and two other men to a gas station on Torresdale Avenue. The group intended to rob the establishment by waiting for the attendant to leave the store for a cigarette break. When this did not happen as planned, Jones’s girlfriend went inside to assess whether they could enter the register area. After her report back to the group, Jones and the two men entered the store; upon entry, Jones pushed his .45-caliber pistol under protective glass and shot the attendant in the back as he tried to escape. The group then stole from both the store and from the dying attendant.
Jones is scheduled for sentencing on March 26. He faces up to life imprisonment if given the maximum penalty allowed by law.
The case resulted from an investigation led by both the Philadelphia Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Parisi and Amanda McCool are prosecuting.
“This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Parisi and Amanda McCool.”
