Poker Writer
A Long Island man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after he shot a man during an invasion of a home poker game. The shooting occurred months after the man carried out several armed robberies in one night.
Josue Bedell Jr. of Mastic, New York, was sentenced to 15 1/2 years in prison, with an additional five years of post-release supervision. In March, Bedell pleaded guilty to a variety of charges, including attempted murder. He robbed four gas stations at gunpoint in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2023. The four robberies committed by Bedell and his accomplice, later named as Christian Anderson of Shirley, netted about $3,000.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney described what Bedell did that night:
In a single night, this defendant went on a crime spree, robbing four businesses at gunpoint across two counties. Months later, he walked into a private home and shot an innocent man.
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Shooting at Poker Home Game
Three months later, on March 31, 2024, the 24-year-old and an unidentified accomplice entered a home in Sayville, where a poker game was ongoing in the wee hours of the morning. The people in the game were held at gunpoint as Bedell stole jewelry and money. Bedell then pulled out a gun when someone appeared at the house and tried to enter. He fired at the individual attempting to enter and struck him to cause injuries.
This incident outlines the risk that can come at home poker games without security. Having a lot of cash in one place makes it an easy, soft target for robberies.
Pleading Guilty
Bedell pleaded guilty to a plethora of charges.
- Five counts of first-degree robbery
- Second-degree attempted murder
- Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon
- Second-degree assault
- Fourth-degree conspiracy
The sentencing came from Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft Jr.
