Philly man sentenced to 17.5 years for violent home invasion robberies

A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for his role in two violent home invasion robberies targeting business owners and employees.

Ali Chandler, 30, was sentenced on April 15, 2026, after he and co-defendant Abdullah Hartage pleaded guilty in 2024 to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, court filings and statements show that on Nov. 13, 2023, Chandler, Hartage and others met at their intended victims’ business and waited outside until closing time, when the owners and their adult daughter left.

Officials said the robbers, who had conducted prior surveillance to find out where the family lived, then drove to their home, arriving before the victims.

When the victims opened their garage and parked inside, the four robbers stormed in armed with handguns, according to officials.

Then, one of the gunmen struck a 61-year-old man several times in the head, causing injuries, and forced him to the ground. Another gunman forced the business owners’ daughter to the ground at gunpoint, and another robber forced a 65-year-old woman from the garage into the home at gunpoint, striking her several times in the head and causing injuries, officials said.

After the home’s security alarm went off, the men left and took the daughter’s backpack, which had her credit/debit cards and ID.

The second robbery happened on Dec. 4, 2021.

In that incident, Chandler, Hartage and others targeted an employee of an area store. Officials said they had spent weeks casing the store, following the victim home and identifying her house.

On the night of the robbery, the criminals again arrived ahead of the victim. Just minutes after the victim arrived home, three armed men broke in, and one of them told her “I know where you work.”

The 68-year-old victim was zip-tied to a chair and pistol whipped in the face, which caused her head injuries, including a gash requiring stitches and a concussion.

The robbers then left with a safe containing cash, coins and jewelry.

In addition to his 210-month prison sentence, Chandler was ordered three years of supervised release and a $60,000 in restitution.

Hartage had been previously sentenced to 18 years in prison.