Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of JOSEPH SANDOVAL, 24, to 23 years-to-life in state prison for the 2021 Lower East Side robbery and murder of 51-year-old Sala Miah, a Bangladeshi immigrant working as a food deliveryman. SANDOVAL pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree on April 18, 2023.
“Joseph Sandoval robbed and murdered a hardworking deliveryman who was just trying to make a living,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Mr. Miah was a beloved family man who came to this country for a better life, and his murder devastated his community. Delivery workers are an essential part of our city, and we will not accept any type of violence against them.”
As admitted in SANDOVAL’s guilty plea, on October 15, 2021, SANDOVAL left his home in Queens carrying a butcher knife intending to find an e-bike to steal.
On October 16, 2021, at approximately 1:00 a.m., SANDOVAL traveled to the Lower East Side and found Miah sitting on a bench, taking a break after a shift, with his e-bike parked in front of him. SANDOVAL confronted Miah and demanded the e-bike. When Miah refused, SANDOVAL stabbed him in the stomach. Miah then tried to flee but SANDOVAL chased him, slashed him in the face, and stole the e-bike keys.
SANDOVAL fled the scene – leaving the knife – and rode the stolen e-bike back home and hid the bike in his garage.
SANDOVAL was arrested a few days later. Pursuant to a search warrant, officers recovered the stolen e-bike and keys.
Assistant D.A.s Leila Kermani and Ariel Douek handled the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Robert Ferrari (Chief of Trial Bureau 40) and Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Assistant D.A.s Ariel Douek and Kaleigh Shea (Trial Bureau 40) also provided valuable assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, in particular, Detectives Joseph Barbara and Robert Hahn (formerly of the Manhattan South Homicide Squad) and Officer Armando Berrios (formerly of the 5th Precinct).
Defendant Information:
JOSEPH SANDOVAL
Queens, NY
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 23 years-to-life in state prison
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