THREE MEN SENTENCED TO LIFE TERMS IN PRISON FOR VIOLENT HARLEM MURDER AND ROBBERY

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the sentencing of three men to significant prison terms for robbing and murdering a 24-year-old man in Harlem in 2008. MICHAEL SMITH, 33, was sentenced today to 20-years-to-life in prison following his conviction at trial in December 2011 of multiple charges, including Murder in the Second Degree. ANTHONY SMITH, 30, pled guilty to Murder in the First Degree in August 2010 and was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison. In May 2011, MELVIN PETERS, 49, was convicted at a separate trial of multiple charges, including Murder in the Second Degree, and was sentenced to 45-years-to-life in June 2011.

“Greed and a callous disregard for human life motivated these defendants to viciously attack and rob a young man, leaving his wife a widow and his two young children to grow up without a father,” District Attorney Vance said. “Gun violence continues to plague our streets, and is far too prevalent in certain areas of Manhattan, including where this shooting occurred. We need to stop the flow of illegal guns, such as the one used to carry out this murder, into our city.”

As proven at trial, in the early morning hours of September 28, 2008, several individuals, including MICHAEL SMITH, ANTHONY SMITH, MELVIN PETERS attacked the victim inside 2050 Eighth Avenue, striking and kicking him repeatedly. The defendants then took property, including a watch, from the victim. The defendants dragged the victim out of the building and into West 112th Street, where ANTHONY SMITH used a gun provided by his cousin MICHAEL SMITH to shoot the victim in the head.

Assistant District Attorneys Vera Varshavsky and Eve Teipel prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Eugene Porcaro, Chief of Trial Bureau 30.

Defendant Information:

MICHAEL SMITH, D.O.B. 03/23/1978

New York, NY

Convicted:

Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
Kidnapping in the First Degree, a class A felony, one count
Gang Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
Sentenced:

20-years-to-life in prison
ANTHONY SMITH, D.O.B. 11/23/1981

Bronx, NY

Convicted:

Murder in the First Degree
Sentenced:

20-years-to-life in prison
MELVIN PETERS, D.O.B. 01/18/1963

New York, NY

Convicted:

Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
Gang Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
Robbery in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
Sentenced:

45-years-to-life in prison

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