Nazhia Cater pleads guilty in robbery of senior citizen; sentenced to 3-5 years in prison

By: Jim Leydon

July 14, 2021 -Springfield- Recently, Nazhia Cater plead guilty in Hampden Superior Court to a single count indictment charging her with unarmed robbery of a person over 60 years old.  The defendant followed an 87 year old victim as she walked home from the MGM Casino shortly before 11 pm on July 31, 2020.  Evidence in the case showed Nazhia Cater stalked the victim for an opportune moment to forcibly take the victim’s purse off of her shoulder, knocking her to the ground in the process. 

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “Law enforcement will not tolerate the victimization of vulnerable persons and we will act swiftly to protect and defend our senior citizens. My Office’s Elder Protection Unit focused on this case and sought and secured a strict penalty for this awful crime against a senior. I thank and commend Springfield Police Detective Edward Cass and Assistant District Attorney Nina Vivenzio for their work and commitment to this case and the protection of our elderly citizens.”

The Commonwealth requested no less than four years, no more than six years, the defense requested a term of probation with treatment conditions.  Judge Jane Mulqueen determined that the defendant’s conduct in following and targeting an obviously vulnerable 87 year old woman, and in light of her prior criminal history, warranted incarceration and sentenced the defendant to no less than three years, and no more than five years imprisonment.

Detective Edward Cass of the Springfield Police Department investigated the case and did an excellent job investigating the robbery and securing the evidence against the defendant, including video surveillance footage from MGM, Monarch Place, Tower Square, and Pride gas station. 

Assistant District Attorney Nina Vivenzio represented the Commonwealth.

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