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Brooklyn Robbery Lawyer

There might be a time when someone finds themselves facing robbery charges in Brooklyn – and lets be honest, this is a bad situation that can ruin your entire future. Robbery charges have dropped by 13.5% (1,170 vs. 1,352) in April 2025 compared to the previous year, but prosecutors in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx have continued their prosecution of these cases with maximum force. Whether its due to mistaken identity, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or some other reason, the person who is facing these charges needs specialized criminal defense lawyers – not just any attorney who claims they can handle it.

What is Considered Robbery in Brooklyn

The general definition for robbery is larceny committed with violence, intimidation, threat of violence or force. Bottom line – its not just theft, its forcible stealing. In Brooklyn, the statutory definition under New York Penal Code Article 160 defines robbery as the act of committing larceny while using or threatening to use immediate physical force upon the victim. This threats, intimidation or force is done for one of two reasons.

The first reason is to prevent or overpower the victims resistance so you could allegedly take the property. You may allegedly threaten or use force on the victim to keep the property you obtain from them during the robbery. The second reason force or threats are used is to compel the victim to allegedly give property over to you. This means you didn’t just grab something and run – you used force or fear to get it.

The Three Degrees of Robbery In Brooklyn

First Degree Robbery in Brooklyn

When you’re accused of first degree robbery, you’re facing the most serious charges possible for this crime. You can be convicted of first degree robbery when you forcibly steal property and during the course of stealing that property, you commit an aggravating factor such as:

• Causing someone to be seriously physically injured
• Using a deadly weapon
• Using or threatening a victim with dangerous object (this can be any object used to cause physical injury – even a stick)
• Showing a weapon such as firearm during the robbery

Robbery in the first degree is a class B felony, which represents one of the most serious type of crimes in New York. This isnt a slap on the wrist situation – you face 10 to 25 years in prison plus $5,000 fine. No matter a person’s criminal history, if convicted of robbery in the first degree, an individual must serve a minimum of five years in prison. If you dont pay the fine, you may be ordered to pay double the amount you allegedly stole from victim.

Second Degree Robbery in Brooklyn

You can be found guilty of second-degree robbery when you forcibly steal property from a person and/or:

• During the course of the crime or fleeing from crime, you cause someone physical injury or display a deadly weapon. The weapon doesn’t have to be real – you can point your finger and claim you have deadly weapon and be accused of second degree robbery
• You helped another person commit actual robbery
• You are accused of stealing vehicle

Second degree robbery is Class C felony. Your facing seven to 15 years in state prison if convicted of this charge. Robbery in the Second Degree is a class C violent felony and the second most serious robbery charge.

Third Degree Robbery in Brooklyn

You can be convicted of third degree robbery when you forcibly steal property. You commit no other action such as helping another person commit robbery. Robbery in the Third Degree is a class D non-violent felony and is considered the least serious form of the crime. The punishment for this crime is two to seven years in prison.

Critical Defense Strategies That Actually Work

When it comes to defending against robbery charges, you need an attorney who gets it – who understands the game of chess that’s about to unfold. There were 10% fewer reported robberies in 2024 than in 2023, which means prosecutors are under pressure to maintain convictions on the cases they do bring.

Lack of Evidence

One of the simplest and most effective defenses is lack of evidence. Prosecutors have to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt – thats a tough standard. If they don’t have rock solid evidence tying you to the crime, our attorneys can argue for dismissal of charges. This defense works best for crimes without much physical proof.

Mistaken Identity

Sometimes the wrong person gets accused of crime they didn’t commit. In criminal defense, those accused of robbery have several strategies to assert their innocence or reduce their culpability. Eyewitness misidentification is more common than people like to believe – especially when there’s poor lighting, stressful situations, or cross-racial identifications involved. Our criminal lawyers know how to cross-examine witnesses and poke holes in identification procedures.

Self-Defense and Duress

Duress is a defense used when the defendant commits robbery under the threat of immediate force, serious bodily injury, or death. This defense hinges on the credibility of the threat and the lack of a reasonable opportunity to escape the situation without complying. If you were forced to participate in robbery because you or your family were threatened, this is crucial defense strategy.

Intoxication Defense

Intoxication as a defense takes two forms: involuntary, which absolves individuals if they can prove intoxication without their consent, and voluntary, which is more complex. Although not universally accepted, voluntary intoxication may mitigate liability in some jurisdictions by questioning the defendant’s capacity to form the specific intent necessary to commit robbery.

Entrapment

Entrapment is another potential defense but is challenging to establish. It requires showing that the defendant was induced by law enforcement to commit a robbery they would not have otherwise attempted. This often comes up in sting operations where government is targeting drug sales, prostitution, or bribery.

The Urgency of Early Intervention

Waiting until arrest or arraignment to retain counsel is fundamental strategic error. Even in 2024, while murders, shootings and major property crimes have decreased, major violent crimes overall have continued to rise for the fourth year in a row, meaning prosecutors are taking aggressive approach to all violent crime prosecutions, including robbery.

During investigation phase, skilled counsel can:

• Engage with prosecutors before charges filed
• Present exculpatory evidence early
• Negotiate charge reductions
• Potentially avoid arrest altogether

Why Choose Specialized Robbery Defense Representation

In New York’s unforgiving legal landscape, where prosecutors pursue robbery charges with zeal, only specialized defense counsel can level playing field. Unlike other criminal defense lawyers who take cookie cutter approach, you need attorney who:

1. Understands Prosecutorial Priorities: Manhattan and Brooklyn prosecutors approach robbery cases with particular intensity. Specialized counsel knows which ADAs handle these cases, their negotiation patterns, and what arguments resonate.
2. Technical Defense Development: Robbery cases often involve technical defenses unavailable in other criminal matters – constructive possession defenses, chain of custody issues specific to evidence, interstate commerce implications.
3. Mitigation Strategies: Unlike drug treatment for narcotics offenses, robbery charges require creative mitigation approaches. Experienced counsel develops compelling narratives explaining how clients found themselves in these situations.
4. Navigating Collateral Consequences: Beyond criminal penalties, robbery convictions trigger numerous collateral consequences – federal firearms disabilities, immigration ramifications, professional licensing revocations, housing implications.

The Reality of Facing Robbery Charges Today

The NYPD’s laser-like focus on criminals who use illegal guns drove significant declines for the third straight year in both the number of shooting incidents—which were down 7.3%, or 71 incidents—and the number of shooting victims—which were down 4.2%, or 48 victims. This increased focus on violent crime means robbery cases are being investigated more thoroughly than ever.

Getting charged with robbery in Brooklyn doesn’t mean you have to be convicted. Maybe it was misunderstanding, maybe you were in wrong place at wrong time – either way, you need solid defense strategy to avoid conviction. Facing armed robbery charges is incredibly daunting–your freedom and future are at stake. You need a skilled criminal defense lawyer in your corner to protect your rights and mount the strongest possible defense.

Take Immediate Action

If you face investigation or charges for robbery in Brooklyn, every moment without proper representation weakens your position. The prosecutor assigned to your case handles robbery charges daily – shouldn’t your attorney possess equal expertise? Your future – your freedom, your familys stability, your career – hangs in the balance.