WHITE PLAINS, NY – Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew Podolsky, announced today that a Complaint has been unsealed charging Kevin Williams and Byron Wilson with the robbery of a jewelry store in Hartsdale, New York, on December 16, 2024. The defendants allegedly stole approximately $1.7 million worth of jewelry during the heist.
Williams, 26, and Wilson, 24, both of Irvington, New Jersey, were arrested this morning in New Jersey. They are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court this afternoon.
According to the Complaint, on December 16, 2024, Williams, Wilson, and their co-conspirators drove a stolen vehicle with a stolen license plate from New Jersey to Hartsdale, New York. At approximately 11:07 a.m., they arrived at a jewelry store located in the Westchester Square shopping plaza. The suspects then used sledgehammers to smash their way into the store. Once inside, while innocent customers were in the store, the robbers destroyed display cases and stole around $1.7 million worth of jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches.
Afterward, the robbers returned to their stolen vehicle and drove back to New Jersey. Williams then went to the Diamond District in New York City, while Wilson returned to their shared residence. A few hours later, both suspects and their co-conspirators were photographed holding large stacks of cash.
Williams and Wilson are both charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The case is being handled by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Reyhan Watson leading the prosecution.
The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.