Man Convicted for Bronx Home Invasion Robbery of Quadriplegic and Others

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Delano A. Reid, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and William Bratton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced today that RALPH NOLAN was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the attempted robbery following a one-week trial before United States District Judge George B. Daniels. The jury convicted NOLAN Friday, April 10, 2015, for his role in connection with a December 2013 home invasion robbery in the Bronx, New York.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Ralph Nolan terrorized the occupants of a Webster Avenue apartment in the Bronx by tying them up at gunpoint during the commission of a brutal robbery. Now, justice has been served for the victims of this heinous crime.”

ATF Special Agent in Charge Reid stated: “This swift and decisive conviction will definitely resonate with the public in that it clearly shows that the ATF and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those criminals who prey on the innocent. These depraved acts will not be tolerated. The defendant will now live a large part of his future within a prison cell and be reminded daily of that fact.”

NYPD Commissioner Bratton stated: “I want to thank the NYPD investigators and the prosecutors with the US Attorney's Office, Southern District whose hard work resulted in the conviction of this individual."

According to the allegations in the Indictment against NOLAN and evidence admitted at trial:

On December 16, 2013, NOLAN and two co-conspirators planned and executed an armed home invasion robbery of an apartment in the Bronx, New York, that belonged to a quadriplegic woman. The robbers believed that the apartment contained drugs and drug proceeds. During the course of the robbery, NOLAN, who was armed with a handgun, pistol-whipped one of the apartment occupants and restrained the victims with telephone cords and cable wires before making off with electronics and other items.

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NOLAN was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of attempted robbery, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition, NOLAN was convicted of one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the attempted robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. NOLAN is scheduled to be sentenced August 11, 2015, before Judge Daniels. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

NOLAN, 26, of Gloversville, New York was arrested July 28, 2014. He was remanded pending sentencing.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and NYPD.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime United. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Cooper and Russell Capone represented the government at trial.