The uncle of Jordan Neely, whose chokehold death on the subway sparked outrage, has appeared in court on grand larceny charges in a bucket hat and flashy coat.
Christopher Neely, 44, was arrested twice in 10 days in May 2023 and faces three counts of grand larceny over allegations he stole a wallet in August 2022, another the following April as well as a $15,000 purse from a Manhattan restaurant.
He appeared in New York Supreme Criminal Court on Thursday where his defense attorney Gurmeet Singh asked for him to be released on his own recognizance instead of the supervised release he is on now.
But Acting Supreme Court Justice April Newbauer denied this and said: ‘I think for now, when it ain’t broke don’t fix it,’ and set a new court date for June 20.
Neely was arrested on May 22 last year while trying to flee the New York City Police Department’s pickpocket team before he was put in handcuffs again on May 31.
The uncle of Jordan Neely , whose chokehold death on the subway sparked outrage, has appeared in court on grand larceny charges
Christopher Neely appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on fraud charges
On May 1, Penny put Neely in a fatal chokehold on a NYC subway. Neely had been threatening passengers
He was first released without bail after his lawyer argued his nephew’s death had taken a ‘terrible toll’ on him and that he couldn’t go to jail because he was being a ‘rock’ for his family.
Neely was previously arrested near the Port Authority Bus Terminal close to Manhattan’s Garment District last May.
He was spotted by cops who recognized him as a known robber, sources told The New York Daily News, and he jumped the turnstile before he was chased and caught by an officer around 11.35pm.
Neely was allegedly armed with a gravity knife and was carrying several bank cards in the names of other people.
And he had seven credit cards with different names in his possession, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Evan Rufrano said.
He was hit with four felonies including possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, bail jumping, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was also charged with eight misdemeanors.
During a court appearance last May, prosecutors requested for him to be held on a $10,000 bail.
They argued he had a warrant out for allegedly violating his five year probation sentence following a 2019 grand larceny case which he served six months in prison for.
However, a judge released him under supervision after his attorney Singh, claimed Jordan’s death had taken a terrible toll on his family, according to the New York Post.
Christopher Neely, 44, was arrested twice in 10 days in May 2023 and faces three counts of grand larceny over allegations he stole a wallet in August 2022, another the following April as well as a $15,000 purse from a Manhattan restaurant
He appeared in New York Supreme Criminal Court on Thursday where his defense attorney Gurmeet Singh asked for him to be released on his own recognizance instead of the supervised release he is on now
Neely was arrested on May 22 last year while trying to flee the New York City Police Department’s pickpocket team before he was put in handcuffs again on May 31
He was first released without bail after his lawyer argued his nephew’s death had taken a ‘terrible toll’ on him and that he couldn’t go to jail because he was being a ‘rock’ for his family
Neely was allegedly armed with a gravity knife and was carrying several bank cards in the names of other people
‘It’s been a very hard experience for the family, a very harrowing experience,’ the public defender told the court.
‘Christopher Neely has been a rock for the family and is taking care of them.’
Neely was supposed to appear back in court days later but he was arrested by authorities on new charges before he could appear.
‘I don’t see Mr. Neely?’ Judge Josh Hanshaft asked in the hearing.
Singh said: ‘Mr. Neely, from what I understand, was picked up this morning. He is in custody currently.’
Prosecutors claim Neely stole a wallet from a woman on August 19, 2022, and then spent $8,650 on her credit cards.
And he is accused of stealing another victim’s wallet on East 82nd Street in April 2023 and a $15,000 purse from a Mexican restaurant on Church Street in Tribeca last May.
The prosecutors revealed that Neely has been arrested at least 20 times since June 2022, while on probation for grand larceny or criminal possession of stolen property.
He has two dozen previous convictions, including rape, robbery and burglary. He was also wanted for an outstanding grand larceny charge – which had violated his probation from a prior case.
His nephew’s funeral was held in Harlem on May 19 and it was attended by politicians including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who said that Jordan was ‘murdered.’
Jordan was restrained by Daniel Penny after he allegedly threatened people on the train car.
Penny put him in a chokehold on the F train at the Broadway-Lafayette Street and Bleecker Street station on May 1.
He was 24 at the time of the incident and was filmed putting Jordan into a chokehold and holding him on the floor until he was unconscious.
Neely leaves after being arraigned at the Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday
Pallbearers carry the casket of Jordan Neely days before his uncle said Penny should not get a plea deal in the case
Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene and the medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide, saying his neck injuries proved the chokehold was what caused it.
The former Marine has since been charged with second-degree manslaughter and released on $100,000 bond following furious protests and accusations of racism.
Penny broke his silence to say that Neely’s death had nothing to do with race, claiming he did what he believed was right and would behave the same way if he were put in the same situation again.
He has pleaded not guilty. His defense attorneys previously tried to get the case dismissed, claiming he ‘stepped in to save lives’ but this was rejected in January.
Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley set a trial date of October 8 as well as a suppression hearing for September 17.