Executive Summary
- Two suspects, Jyereonne Ransom and Kenneth Crute, were arrested for a series of armed robberies in Mount Vernon and Manhattan.
- The investigation was a joint operation involving the MVPD, ATF, and NYPD.
- Targets included the Holy Cow Restaurant, a Shell Gas Station, and a carjacking incident.
- The defendants face federal charges under the Hobbs Act, which carry significant mandatory minimum sentences.
The Mount Vernon Police Department (MVPD), in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), has arrested two suspects connected to a series of armed robberies across Mount Vernon and Upper Manhattan. Authorities announced that the operation successfully closed an active investigation into a pattern of violent crimes targeting local businesses.
Jyereonne Ransom, 19, and Kenneth Crute, 18, both of Manhattan, were taken into custody on Saturday and presented in White Plains federal court on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. According to the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, the defendants are accused of orchestrating a robbery pattern between November 10 and November 29, 2025.
Investigators allege that Ransom and Crute targeted the Holy Cow Restaurant on Gramatan Avenue on two separate occasions, November 12 and November 29. Additional charges link the suspects to a carjacking on Linden Avenue on November 4, the armed robbery of a Shell Gas Station on November 19, and a gunpoint robbery of a Manhattan restaurant on November 10. Both defendants were ordered detained following their court appearance.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, emphasized the severity of the federal response. "When offenders choose gun violence in New York, we will work to get them off the street using our robust federal investigative tools and partnerships," Clayton stated. He noted that the defendants face serious federal crimes which often carry mandatory minimums and consecutive sentences.
The charges levied against Ransom include conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, alongside three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Crute faces similar charges, including conspiracy and three counts of Hobbs Act robbery. The firearm offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences of seven years each, to be served consecutively to other prison terms.
MVPD Lieutenant Janie McKennie, Commanding Officer of the Detective Division, highlighted the inter-agency cooperation. "This is a true example of what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together and when a community stands united with its police department," McKennie said. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard also commended the task force, stating that the city remains relentless in pursuing those who threaten public safety.
Federal Prosecution Strategy
The decision to prosecute these cases at the federal level under the Hobbs Act signals a strategic escalation by law enforcement to utilize stricter sentencing guidelines as a deterrent against local commercial crimes. The Hobbs Act allows federal jurisdiction over robberies that affect interstate commerce, carrying severe penalties that exceed typical state-level sentencing for similar offenses. This approach highlights the increasing reliance on inter-agency task forces to bridge jurisdictional gaps when addressing repeat violent offenders. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
