A federal judge on Tuesday threw a book at a man who threatened to choke and kill an 81-year-old woman after a serial bank robber who was already on parole in a “disturbing” robbery in Queens.
Gerald Delos, 55, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the April 6, 2023 robbery of Ridgewood Savings Bank in Glendale. On this occasion, he threatened the elderly victim, threatening to blow her brains out if the teller did not comply. Don't hand over cash.
Delos only paid $205. Federal prosecutors said in a statement:.
“This case impacts your community,” U.S. District Judge William Kuntz told the career thief. “This case affects your family. But ultimately it affects you.”
In court, Delos wore a beige jumpsuit, glasses and his hair slicked back. He appeared to be in good spirits until the verdict was handed down and he was faced with a lifelong crime.
He has 10 prior convictions, including at least two stints in state prison for four robbery raps, including 13 years in state prison for a 2011 felony robbery charge. .
The career criminal was last paroled on March 9, 2023, from a correctional facility in northern Wyoming.
Less than a month later, he broke into a Queens bank and “chose to terrorize hard-working bank tellers and customers,” U.S. Attorney Brion Peace said in a statement.
“The victims, including the elderly woman the defendant put in a chokehold, will never forget that day,” Peace said. “Protecting our communities is an important part of our mission, and my office will continue to vigorously prosecute repeat offenders who do not respect the law.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Schuman said in court Tuesday that DeRoss “intentionally frightened everyone in the bank,” not just the elderly woman.
“That's his MO. He has a long pattern of committing crimes,” Schumann said. “He had just been released from a long sentence of more than 10 years. We are talking about someone who regularly committed crimes every time he was released into society.”
Defense lawyer Nora Hirosawa countered that his client's difficult life was a “significant contributing factor” to his violent criminal behavior over more than 30 years.
“He was self-medicating with cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin,” Hirosawa said. “He did not receive long-term mental health treatment.
“He is someone who feels happy and stable when he has something to do. When he is contributing to other people's lives,” she said. “There were interpersonal issues that caused a relapse after he had established stability. He was very articulate and accepted responsibility immediately.”
The lawyer added, “I was uncomfortable seeing myself hugging an older woman.''
He said he had also suffered a lot with other inmates since he was re-incarcerated, including getting a black eye after being jumped by three young inmates three weeks ago.
