Mercer County Man Charged with Multiple Armed Robberies of Business Owners and Causing the Death of One Victim Through Use of a Firearm

TRENTON, N.J. - A Mercer County man made an initial appearance on charges of three armed robberies of Trenton-area businesses, including one during which the man caused the death of a victim through use of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Paul X. McNeil, 38, of Trenton, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. McNeil made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

McNeil targeted certain local businesses and/or business owners based upon the victims' access to the businesses' cash proceeds. On September 30, 2022, as an employee of an auto recycling shop in Ewing, New Jersey, was in the process of collecting the shop's cash proceeds, McNeil and a coconspirator entered the shop. McNeil pointed a firearm at the employee before he and the coconspirator took from the employee approximately $150,000 of the shop's cash proceeds and the employee's lawfully registered firearm. Later that day, McNeil purchased a new car, paying $9,500 in a down payment, comprised of ninety-five $100 bills.

On August 10, 2023, McNeil followed the owner of a Trenton cannabis shop from the shop to the owner's residence in Lawrence Township. Moments after the cannabis shop owner entered the residence, McNeil followed the owner into the residence and robbed the owner of the cannabis shop's cash proceeds which the owner had carried into the residence. As overheard by the cannabis owner's spouse, who was in the residence, the owner stated to McNeil, "No, no, no … please, here, you can have it," moments before McNeil shot and killed the owner with a firearm. In addition to taking from the owner the cannabis shop's cash proceeds, McNeil also took from the owner jewelry the owner was wearing at the time of the robbery. Photographs recovered from McNeil's cellphone depict McNeil wearing the owner's jewelry, which was recovered later from McNeil's vehicle.

On September 23, 2023, McNeil entered the Ewing residence of an owner of a Trenton-area house-flipping business. Upon entering the residence, McNeil encountered three victims, including two minors. The owner of the business was not in the residence at the time. McNeil pointed a handgun at the three victims and demanded money. McNeil then bound the victims' hands behind their backs with zip ties and forced them at gunpoint into the basement, while he searched the residence. McNeil took approximately $4,500 in cash proceeds from the house- flipping business as well as some personal items belonging to the business owner and the three victims. Law enforcement later recovered from McNeil's residence approximately $4,000 in cash and some of the personal items belonging to the business's owner and the three victims.

"These charges allege that the defendant targeted several local business owners for robbery and murdered one of them. The U.S. Attorney's Office, together with its federal and local law enforcement partners, will spare no effort to investigate and prosecute violent offenders who target the businesses and residents of New Jersey."

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

"We allege McNeil went into a Ewing business, held it up at gun point, and while the owner was attempting to hand over money McNeil shot and killed him. We also have evidence showing he also took part in several other brutal attacks and robberies. Violent offenders should take this investigation as a warning that the FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners are pursuing criminals who believe they can act with impunity and not face justice," Acting SAC Nelson I. Delgado said.

The count of murder during and in relation to a crime of violence is punishable by death, or a term of imprisonment up to life. The counts of Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The brandishing and discharging of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, where the brandishing count has a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and the discharging count has a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 year in prison, which sentences must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting SAC Nelson I. Delgado, members of the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force, under the direction of Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton, and detectives with the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief Albert Rhodes, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew and Special Assistant Laura Sunyak of the U.S. Attorney's Office's Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Benjamin West, Esq.

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