Long Island Man Gets 15 Years After Shooting at Poker Home Game

A Long Island man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after he shot a man during an invasion of a home poker game. The shooting occurred months after the man carried out several armed robberies in one night.

Josue Bedell Jr. of Mastic, New York, was sentenced to 15 1/2 years in prison, with an additional five years of post-release supervision. In March, Bedell pleaded guilty to a variety of charges, including attempted murder. He robbed four gas stations at gunpoint in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2023. The four robberies committed by Bedell and his accomplice, later named as Christian Anderson of Shirley, netted about $3,000.

District Attorney Raymond Tierney described what Bedell did that night:

In a single night, this defendant went on a crime spree, robbing four businesses at gunpoint across two counties. Months later, he walked into a private home and shot an innocent man.

Keep Reading

Shooting at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno Leaves Three Dead, Including California Restaurant Owner

Shooting at Lucky Eagle Casino in Texas Leaves Two Dead, Five Injured

Rapper Offset Hospitalized After Shooting at Hard Rock Hollywood; Lil Tjay Released After Arrest

Shooting at Poker Home Game

Three months later, on March 31, 2024, the 24-year-old and an unidentified accomplice entered a home in Sayville, where a poker game was ongoing in the wee hours of the morning. The people in the game were held at gunpoint as Bedell stole jewelry and money. Bedell then pulled out a gun when someone appeared at the house and tried to enter. He fired at the individual attempting to enter and struck him to cause injuries.

This incident outlines the risk that can come at home poker games without security. Having a lot of cash in one place makes it an easy, soft target for robberies.

Pleading Guilty

Bedell pleaded guilty to a plethora of charges.

• Five counts of first-degree robbery

• Second-degree attempted murder

• Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon

• Second-degree assault

• Fourth-degree conspiracy

The sentencing came from Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft Jr.

Jeffrey McMillan

Poker Writer

Jeffrey is an Expert Sports and Poker Writer with poker being his specific scope for the better part of five years. He has worked in various capacities at the biggest poker events in the world, WSOP, EPT, local tournaments and more. He has worked with PokerNews, Poker.Org, 888poker and the WSOP itself through the years. Jeff is also a fervent follower of many sports, professional, collegiate and international, with a particular interest in tennis. He received a Master's in Sports Management from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and a Bachelors in the same field from Clemson University.