PHILADELPHIA, PA — In a victory for the citizens of Philadelphia, Michael Malcolm, a 26-year-old local menace, has been handed a hefty prison sentence of 185 months – that’s over 15 years – for his audacious armed robberies of two Northeast Philadelphia stores. Not stopping there, once Malcolm’s time behind bars is up, he’ll be under the watchful eye of authorities for an additional five years of supervised release, and he’s also been ordered to cough up $300 in restitution.
The drama unfolded on the evening of October 5, 2021, when Malcolm, armed with more than just bad intentions, decided to target Illadelph by All in One Smoke Shop and Somerton Beverage within minutes of each other. His modus operandi? Pretend to be a regular customer before turning the tables with a gun and making off with the cash.
First stop was the smoke shop at 14230 Bustleton Avenue, where Malcolm, after asking for cigarillo wraps and handing over the money, pulled a gun on the unsuspecting clerk as soon as the register drawer slid open. With the gun pointed squarely at the clerk, Malcolm demanded the money, making away with around $300.
But Malcolm wasn’t done yet. Roughly ten minutes later, he tried his luck at Somerton Beverage, merely two-tenths of a mile down the road. This time, after selecting a beer and handing over money, he produced his firearm when the clerk hesitated to open the register. His plan foiled by the clerk’s cries of alarm, Malcolm fled with just the beer in hand.
Malcolm’s spree of terror was short-lived, thanks to the sharp eyes of two Philadelphia Police Department officers who spotted him lurking at 13501 Bustleton Avenue shortly after. Despite his attempt to flee, the officers quickly apprehended him following a brief foot chase. A search revealed a loaded 9mm handgun on Malcolm, and his jacket matched the description given by the victims of the night’s earlier robberies.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero didn’t hold back in her condemnation of Malcolm’s actions, highlighting the danger he posed to the community and the trauma inflicted on hardworking clerks simply doing their jobs. The FBI and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel echoed these sentiments, praising the swift action and collaboration of law enforcement agencies in bringing Malcolm to justice.
Tuesday’s sentencing sends a clear message to would-be criminals: Philadelphia will not stand for violence and intimidation in its neighborhoods. The diligent efforts of the FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, and the Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski have ensured that Michael Malcolm will spend a significant chunk of his life reflecting on his crimes, away from the streets he once terrorized.
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