BRONX MAN FACING 24 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO A SERIES OF "PUSH IN" BURGLARIES INVOLVING ELDERLY VICTIMS IN PARKCHESTER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 25 year old repeat offender will be going back to prison for the next 24 years for preying upon elderly residents in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, during a six month crime spree.

Tyrone Felton, of 18 Metropolitan Oval, pled guilty to five counts of Burglary in the 1st degree in connection with five armed "push in" burglaries between September 2002 and November 2002. The plea was entered before Criminal Court Judge Harold Adler in Part F. The judge set sentencing for Tuesday, June 3, 2003 in State Supreme Court, Part "A" where Felton was to have been arraigned on an indictment involving another "push in" burglary that occurred on March 28, 2003. However, Felton indicated to the court, through his attorney, that he will also plead guilty to that crime. Under terms of the plea agreement, Felton will be sentenced to 24 years imprisonment.

District Attorney Johnson said the substantial period of incarceration would assure "these most vulnerable of victims protection from this defendant’s predatory behavior." Mr. Johnson added that the speedy disposition would spare the elderly victims the trauma of having to re-live their ordeals by taking the stand to testify.

Felton’s crime spree began on September 19, 2002 when he victimized a 70 year old woman and a 92 year old woman in two separate incidents within five hours. Felton struck again on October 4, 2002 in a burglary involving a 90 year old woman. Twelve days later, on October 16, 2002, Felton victimized an 87 year old woman and her 84 year old brother. The fifth "push in" burglary occurred on November 7, 2002 at the home of an 81 year old woman. All of the victims were targeted as they left area stores carrying bags of groceries. As the elderly women approached their homes, Felton would offer to help them with their packages and gain their confidence. Once the women entered the elevator Felton watched to see where they were going and would get off one or two floors below. He would race up the stairs and push his victims into their apartments as they were turning the keys to open the front door. Felton, who was armed with either a knife or handgun, bound the victims with duct tape before fleeing with jewelry and small amounts of cash.

The final incident on March 28, 2003 occurred at the home of a 70 year old man and also involved his 29 year old daughter and two year old grandson. The victim was in his yard when Felton and two other armed men took his wallet and jewelry before snatching his daughter’s purse as she walked out of the house with her two year old son. All three victims were forced into the garage and bound with duct tape.

Felton’s co-defendant in the March 28, 2003 incident only, Richard Feliciano, 24, of 1480 Washington Avenue, the Bronx is awaiting trial.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mary-Kathleen Wagner whose work was cited by Mr. Johnson as being "exemplary." "Through her diligent effort," Mr. Johnson said, "a violent criminal is on his way to state prison only weeks after his arrest and an innocent man is able to once again enjoy his freedom." It was ADA Wagner’s discovery that the wrong video tape of an ATM banking transaction was the basis of an innocent man being arrested and charged. The matter was brought to the court’s attention immediately. The case against the innocent man was dismissed and investigators soon arrested the person who actually committed the crimes.