Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of CHRISTOPHER VELARDE, 40, to 18 years in state prison for attacking two men in separate unprovoked assaults at a Midtown deli and subway station in May 2024. A New York Supreme Court jury found VELARDE guilty of one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the Third Degree on August 27, 2025.

“Christopher Velarde committed vicious unprovoked attacks against two complete strangers in the span of minutes,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Both victims were significantly injured by this violence, requiring hospitalization and extensive surgeries, in addition to emotional trauma. Manhattanites deserve to be safe both above and below ground, and I hope the resolution of this case provides a sense of justice to the victims and their loved ones.”

As proven at trial, on May 4, 2024, at approximately 1:26 a.m., VELARDE entered a deli at 48 West 48th Street, approached a 44-year-old man and assaulted him. VELARDE threw the man to the ground and stomped on his head several times. Eyewitnesses intervened to stop VELARDE, who eventually grabbed the man’s backpack and fled the store.

At approximately 1:32 a.m., on the same day, VELARDE entered the 49th Street subway station uptown platform. He then approached a 22-year-old man, who was waiting for a train. VELARDE punched the man in the face several times, threw him to the ground and continued punching him. VELARDE eventually exited the station, crossed the street to enter the downtown platform, and fled on a train.

VELARDE was arrested on May 25, 2024, after police stopped him at the Borough Hall subway station in downtown Manhattan.

As a result of the assaults, the first victim suffered from bruising, multiple fractures and a laceration to his face, and a broken front tooth. He also underwent facial reconstruction surgery as a result of the injuries. The second victim suffered a concussion, received multiple stiches for his lip and underwent surgery for a fractured jaw, which had to be wired shut.

Assistant D.A.s Kristen Freda and Geremia Adamo handled the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Erin Tierney (Chief of Trial Bureau 30), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Louis Barber (Trial Bureau 30); Senior Investigative Analyst Eli Horton (Trial Bureau 30); Supervising Cell Site Analyst Tanya De Vulpillieres (High Tech Analysis Unit); Computer Forensic Analyst Laura Estevez (High Tech Analysis Unit); Spanish Interpreter Ivana Romo De Vivar (Language Services Unit) provided valuable assistance with this case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Officers Sorianyi Abreu and Ariel Marin (Midtown North Precinct); Detective Christopher Kissane (Midtown North Precinct); Officers Rosa Duncan and Cyrus Thomas (Transit Division District 1); Officer Thomas Bodai (Transit Division District 30); Detective Jesse Janksy (Manhattan Robbery Squad); Detective Sonor Ozuk (30th Precinct); Officer Camille Mazzola (Lower Manhattan Security Initiative); and the Neil Notise (NYPD Tapes and Records Unit).

Defendant Information:

CHRISTOPHER VELARDE
New York, NY

Convicted:

• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, two counts
• Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count

Sentenced:

• 18 years in state prison

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