Prolific Armed Robber Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Anthony Randall, aka “Anthony McZeal,” 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to 25 years and 19 days in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for armed robbery and gun offenses.

Randall was charged by indictment in February 2024 with two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He pleaded guilty in March of this year.

In addition to the two robberies with which he was charged — the September 1, 2021, gunpoint robbery of the CVS store located at 1600 Wadsworth Avenue in Philadelphia, and the September 11, 2021, gunpoint robbery of the Philadelphia Pretzel Factory store located at 1555 Wadsworth Avenue — Randall admitted carrying out 17 other armed robberies in the fall of 2021.

The defendant began committing these crimes just months after his March 2021 release from federal prison, where he’d been incarcerated for six armed robberies committed in 2006.

“Anthony Randall terrorized the community during his extreme armed robbery spree — all while on supervised release for his previous string of gunpoint crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Prosecuting committed offenders like this is a priority for my office. We’ll continue to get violent criminals off the street and make Philadelphia safer.”

“No one should have to live or work in fear,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Armed robberies don’t just endanger lives, they erode the sense of safety that every person deserves. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: the FBI is unwavering in its commitment to protecting our communities and holding violent offenders accountable for their actions.”

The case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Miller and Amanda Reinitz.