West Orange Man Convicted of Armed Robbery, Shooting Retired Officer

A West Orange man was convicted by a federal jury in Trenton for shooting a retired police officer working as an armed money courier during $400,000 armed robbery in 2011, officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday. 

James Sodano, 69, was convicted on conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and possessing, carrying and using a firearm, which was fired during the robbery charges after a 2½-week trial before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan.

When sentenced on July 8, Sodana faces life in prison, in addition to $750,00 in fines, officials said. 

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Sodano and another armed man shot the courier multiple times as he was delivering a bag containing $400,000 to a Newark bar on Elm Street on May 19, 2011.

When the pair fled, Sodano took the $400,000. He drove off in his car but crashed three-and-a-half blocks away because of injuries sustained during the shooting, officials said. Police arrested him a short time later.

The second gunman fled on foot. His identity remains unknown.

The retired officer sustained "serious bodily harm" with injuries to his face, arm and back, but survived.