New York City Robbery and Larceny Lawyer
Theft-related charges in New York cover an enormous range of conduct, from a shoplifting accusation in a Midtown department store to an armed robbery prosecution in state supreme court. The penal law draws sharp distinctions between these offenses, and those distinctions carry wildly different consequences. Someone charged with petit larceny faces a misdemeanor record that can cost them a job. Someone charged with robbery in the first degree faces a mandatory state prison sentence. The gap between those outcomes is not random. It reflects how aggressively a charge is pursued, how early a defense is built, and how thoroughly the evidence is examined before a disposition is reached. If you are searching for a New York City robbery and larceny lawyer, understanding that gap, and finding counsel who can close it, is the place to start.
New York’s theft statutes are deceptively layered. Larceny, robbery, burglary, grand larceny by extortion, and criminal possession of stolen property all occupy overlapping terrain. Prosecutors routinely charge defendants with multiple counts arising from the same alleged transaction, and the way those counts are framed at the outset shapes every negotiation that follows. An attorney who arrives at arraignment without having already analyzed the surveillance footage, witness statements, and charging instrument is already behind. In this city, with its volume of cases and its experienced district attorneys, being unprepared is its own liability.
The courts that handle these cases span five boroughs. Manhattan prosecutions run through the New York County Supreme Court and Criminal Court at 100 Centre Street. Brooklyn cases are prosecuted by the Kings County District Attorney at 210 Joralemon Street. Bronx cases pass through Bronx County Supreme Court and the Bronx Hall of Justice. Queens and Staten Island have their own DA’s offices and courthouse structures, each with distinct prosecutorial cultures. A defense attorney who understands those cultures, the tendencies of individual prosecutors and judges, and the procedural rhythms of each courthouse operates from a position of real advantage.
The Charges That Fall Under Robbery and Theft in New York
- Petit Larceny: A misdemeanor covering theft of property valued at or under a statutory threshold. Despite carrying a potential jail sentence and permanent criminal record, petit larceny charges are often treated as minor without skilled advocacy, which can result in avoidable convictions.
- Grand Larceny (First Through Fourth Degree): New York grades grand larceny by the value of the property stolen, with fourth-degree grand larceny beginning at property worth more than one thousand dollars. First-degree grand larceny, involving property valued over one million dollars, is a class B felony with serious sentencing exposure.
- Robbery in the Third Degree: Forcible theft under New York Penal Law, a class D felony that applies when a person uses or threatens physical force to steal. Even absent a weapon, a conviction can result in state prison time.
- Robbery in the Second Degree: A class C violent felony triggered when the theft involves an accomplice, causes physical injury, or involves a displayed firearm, whether or not it is loaded. Second-degree robbery carries mandatory incarceration upon conviction.
- Robbery in the First Degree: New York’s most serious robbery charge, a class B violent felony, applied when a defendant is armed with a deadly weapon, causes serious physical injury, or uses or threatens use of a dangerous instrument. First-degree convictions carry mandatory state prison sentences measured in years.
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property: A separate but frequently added charge when someone is found with property that was allegedly taken by another person. Prosecutors use this charge aggressively when they cannot directly link a defendant to the theft itself.
- Larceny by False Pretenses or Embezzlement: Theft accomplished through deception or breach of a fiduciary relationship. These charges appear frequently in white-collar contexts and require a different analytical framework than street-crime theft prosecutions.
Robbery comes in various different forms, and is codified by New York Penal Law § 160 . On the other hand, state larceny charges, codified by New York Penal Law § 155 , zero in on the value of money or property taken from another, as opposed to what if any force was used. To that end: Grand larceny in the fourth degree: a Class “E” felony, requiring that the money or property unlawfully taken be in excess of $1,000. Grand larceny in the third degree: a Class “D” felony, involves property valued at over $3,000 or theft involving an automated teller machine. Grand larceny in the second degree: a Class “C” felony, involves property valued at over $50,000 or theft by extortion specifically involving the threat of physical injury, property damage, or abuse of position by a public servant. Petit larceny: a Class “A” misdemeanor, is theft of property valued at less than $1,000 and not included in the definition of grand larceny. For example, was the victim elderly, was the amount taken in excess of $50,000, was physical force used, or was a weapon displayed.
What Jason Goldman Brings to Robbery and Theft Defense
Jason Goldman began his career as a Brooklyn prosecutor, where he handled the city’s most serious felony cases. That prosecutorial experience is not just a credential on a resume. It informs precisely how he now defends against the same charging decisions, investigative techniques, and trial strategies the government deploys. He knows what a district attorney’s office considers a strong case, and he knows where those cases develop weaknesses.
Having tried over 25 cases to verdict, Mr. Goldman brings genuine trial experience to every robbery and larceny representation. Many attorneys in this city settle every case, which sometimes makes sense, but the credibility to take a case to a jury verdict changes every conversation with a prosecutor along the way. When a DA knows that opposing counsel will actually try the case, plea offers look different. The New York Post has called Mr. Goldman “High-Powered,” and Fox 5’s Rosanna Scotto described him simply as someone to call when you need a good lawyer. Those are not abstract endorsements. They reflect a track record built on results in serious, high-visibility matters.
For robbery and larceny clients, Mr. Goldman’s practice spans the full arc of a case. Pre-arrest investigation work can prevent charges from being filed at all. If charges are filed, trial preparation begins immediately. Sentencing and appellate practice is available for cases where the initial outcome requires a further response. The firm has represented corporate executives, politicians, athletes, celebrities, and professionals across industries, including individuals whose exposure in theft or fraud-adjacent cases carried both legal and reputational stakes. That dual awareness, of what happens in the courtroom and what happens in the public record, shapes how each representation is managed from day one.
Your Defense Begins Now If you are accused of committing a state level robbery or larceny, or a federal level Hobbs Act robbery, it is imperative that you hire a former prosecutor and seasoned criminal defense attorney who has dealt with these offenses on both sides of the courtroom.
When an Arrest Happens: How to Move and What to Protect
An arrest for robbery or larceny in New York triggers a short and compressed timeline. Arraignment typically occurs within 24 hours of arrest, and the choices made at that first court appearance, including how bail is addressed, what is said or not said, and how the initial plea is entered, can shape the entire case. Too many defendants arrive at arraignment without experienced counsel because they underestimated how quickly these decisions arrive.
The first and most critical step is to say nothing to law enforcement beyond providing identifying information. This is not a strategy for guilty people. It is the correct approach for anyone, regardless of what actually occurred, because statements made in the immediate aftermath of an arrest are routinely misquoted, stripped of context, and used to foreclose defenses that would otherwise be available. Surveillance footage, which is ubiquitous across New York City’s subway system, commercial corridors, and residential buildings, is often reviewed and locked in by investigators within hours. An attorney who gets into the case early can take steps to preserve favorable footage before it is overwritten.
After arraignment, the focus shifts to the discovery process. Under New York’s criminal procedure reforms, prosecutors are required to provide discovery materials on a relatively compressed timeline. That disclosure includes police reports, witness statements, laboratory results if a weapon was tested, and any prior statements attributed to the defendant. Reviewing those materials rigorously, and identifying what is missing or inconsistent, is where a competent defense is built. Eyewitness identification is notoriously unreliable, and New York courts have developed specific procedures around identification testimony. Video evidence has its own evidentiary requirements. Chain of custody questions can undermine property-related charges entirely.
One mistake people make in these situations is waiting to retain counsel until after they have spoken informally with family members, friends, or even their own employer about what happened. Those conversations are not privileged. If someone who heard those discussions is later interviewed by law enforcement or subpoenaed, what was said in confidence becomes evidence. The only protected conversations are those with an attorney, and that protection begins the moment the attorney is retained.
The Evidence Battleground in Theft and Robbery Cases
Robbery prosecutions in New York often rest on a combination of complainant testimony, surveillance footage, and physical evidence. Each of those pillars can be challenged, and skilled defense work means examining every one of them before trial.
Complainant credibility is the first line of examination. Robbery complainants sometimes have their own legal issues, prior relationships with the defendant, or financial motivations to characterize an encounter as theft or force when the facts are more ambiguous. Cross-examination of a complainant who has given inconsistent accounts, who spoke to police multiple times with evolving details, or who had prior dealings with the defendant is one of the most effective tools available. Mr. Goldman’s background as a trial litigator who has tried over 25 cases to verdict means that cross-examination is not a theoretical exercise. It is a practiced skill.
Surveillance footage is the evidence that most juries find most persuasive, but footage has its own vulnerabilities. Camera angles, timestamps, resolution quality, and the conditions under which footage was obtained all affect its reliability. When footage has been edited, compressed, or reviewed by law enforcement before it reaches the defense, there are questions about what was captured and what was not. An attorney who requests raw footage and works with forensic experts can identify discrepancies that a jury would never otherwise see.
Identification procedures in New York, whether a photo array or a lineup, carry specific legal requirements designed to reduce suggestiveness. When those procedures are not followed, the resulting identification may be suppressed. A successful suppression motion on identification evidence can collapse a robbery case entirely because these prosecutions frequently depend on a witness who says they saw the defendant commit the act. Remove that identification, and the government’s case may not survive.
For grand larceny cases built on property valuation, the government must prove that the value of what was taken meets the statutory threshold for the charged degree. Valuation disputes are real disputes, not technicalities. When the alleged stolen property is jewelry, art, merchandise, or business assets, what it was actually worth at the time of the alleged theft is often contested. Expert testimony on valuation can shift the degree of the charge, which shifts the sentencing exposure dramatically.
On the federal level, Hobbs Act Robbery, pursuant to 18 U.S.
Questions People Ask About Robbery and Theft Charges in New York
What is the difference between robbery and larceny under New York law?
Larceny is the taking of another person’s property with intent to deprive them of it. Robbery is larceny plus force or the threat of force. The presence of physical compulsion, whether actual or implied, elevates a theft to a robbery and converts what might be a non-violent property offense into a violent felony with mandatory incarceration exposure. This distinction drives the entire sentencing framework.
Can I be charged with robbery even if I did not have a weapon?
Yes. Robbery does not require a weapon. Any use or threatened use of physical force to steal property can support a robbery charge. Third-degree robbery, the base robbery charge under New York’s penal law, requires only that force be used or threatened during a theft. The presence of a weapon, injury to the victim, or the involvement of an accomplice elevates the charge to the second or first degree.
What happens if the alleged victim does not want to press charges?
In New York, the decision to pursue a criminal case rests with the district attorney’s office, not the complainant. A victim who tells police they do not want to proceed cannot unilaterally stop a prosecution. Prosecutors may proceed even over a victim’s objection, particularly in robbery cases. However, a complainant’s reluctance to testify is a significant practical factor that affects how a case moves and what a DA’s office is willing to offer in negotiation.
How is grand larceny different from petit larceny, and where is the line drawn?
Petit larceny covers property with a value at or below one thousand dollars and is a misdemeanor under New York law. Grand larceny begins above that threshold and is a felony. The degree of the felony, fourth through first, rises as the value of the property increases. First-degree grand larceny, which involves property valued over one million dollars, is among the most serious theft charges available and carries the longest potential sentences.
Will a robbery or theft conviction affect my ability to work in a licensed profession in New York?
Yes. New York licensing boards for professions including medicine, law, nursing, real estate, and financial services treat felony convictions as grounds for disciplinary action, license suspension, or permanent revocation. A theft or robbery conviction involving dishonesty or moral turpitude is treated particularly seriously. For professionals or licensed individuals facing these charges, the professional licensing consequences can be as significant as the criminal sentence itself, and a defense strategy needs to account for both tracks simultaneously.
Can a robbery or grand larceny charge affect my immigration status?
Theft and robbery offenses can have severe immigration consequences for non-citizens. Crimes involving moral turpitude, which include many theft-related offenses, can render a non-citizen deportable or inadmissible depending on their current status, the value of the property involved, and the sentence imposed. For non-citizen clients, every plea offer must be evaluated through the lens of immigration law, and a disposition that appears favorable on its face from a criminal standpoint may be catastrophic from an immigration standpoint.
Is it possible to get a robbery or theft charge reduced or dismissed in New York?
Reductions and dismissals happen in these cases regularly, and they happen because of specific work done at specific points in the process. Pre-trial motions to suppress identification evidence, statements, or physical property can strip a case of its evidentiary foundation. Challenges to the sufficiency of the complaint or the grand jury proceeding can result in dismissal. Negotiated pleas to lesser charges, from robbery down to assault or from grand larceny down to petit larceny, occur when defense counsel demonstrates to the prosecution that the evidence is weaker than it initially appeared or that the defendant’s profile and circumstances warrant a different resolution.
If I am accused of shoplifting at a New York City retailer, do I face criminal charges even if the store offers a civil recovery settlement?
A civil recovery demand from a retailer is a separate matter from criminal prosecution and settling it does not make the criminal case go away. New York retailers frequently refer shoplifting matters to the district attorney’s office regardless of whether a civil settlement has been reached. Accepting a civil demand and paying it does not resolve any pending or potential criminal charge, and should never be treated as doing so.
What is the typical timeline for a robbery case in New York Criminal Court or Supreme Court?
Misdemeanor theft cases in New York Criminal Court can resolve in a matter of months, though contested cases involving motions and trial can extend beyond a year. Felony robbery and grand larceny cases, which proceed through the grand jury process and are assigned to Supreme Court, typically run longer. Cases involving complex discovery, multiple defendants, or extensive pretrial motion practice in courts like New York County Supreme Court or Kings County Supreme Court can take a year or more from arraignment to resolution. The timeline is affected by the courthouse, the complexity of the evidence, and whether the case goes to trial.
Can past theft or robbery convictions affect how I am sentenced on a new charge?
Yes, significantly. New York’s penal law contains a predicate felony framework that mandates enhanced sentencing for defendants who have prior felony convictions within a defined lookback period. A prior violent felony conviction can convert a new robbery charge from an indeterminate to a determinate sentence with a mandatory minimum that cannot be suspended or reduced to probation. Defense counsel needs to examine prior records carefully when formulating any strategy, because the predicate analysis is often the single most important factor in sentencing exposure.
New York City Robbery and Theft Defense Across Every Borough and Beyond
The Law Offices of Jason Goldman represents robbery and larceny clients throughout New York City and the surrounding region. In Manhattan, cases arise in neighborhoods from the Upper East Side and Harlem through Midtown, Chelsea, the Financial District, and Tribeca. Brooklyn clients come from areas including Flatbush, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Williamsburg, Park Slope, and Bay Ridge. In the Bronx, the firm serves clients from Mott Haven through Fordham, Pelham Bay, and Riverdale. Queens clients are drawn from Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Flushing, Astoria, Forest Hills, and Far Rockaway. Staten Island representation extends across St. George, New Dorp, and the South Shore communities.
Beyond the five boroughs, the firm represents clients in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, and Rockland County, as well as in federal courts sitting in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, where theft-related charges sometimes arise in the context of wire fraud, mail fraud, or other federal statutes. When matters require pro hac vice admission in other jurisdictions, Mr. Goldman has the flexibility to pursue that path as well. Wherever a robbery or theft charge is pending in this region, the firm’s representation is available.
Speak With a New York City Robbery and Theft Attorney Before Anything Else
A robbery or theft charge in New York demands immediate, serious attention. The evidence is being reviewed, witnesses are being interviewed, and charging decisions are being made on a timeline that does not pause. Retaining a New York City robbery and theft attorney as early as possible, before arraignment if circumstances allow, creates options that simply do not exist later in the process. Jason Goldman has spent his career on both sides of these cases, and his practice at The Law Offices of Jason Goldman is built around the kind of preparation, creativity, and courtroom readiness that complicated theft and robbery charges require. Call the firm today to speak directly about your situation.
