QUEENS, NY – James Fraley, a 73-year-old man from St. Albans, was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison for charges related to the 2021 shooting of a deli owner in Briarwood and subsequent discovery of a large quantity of heroin in his home. The Queens Supreme Court Justice Gary Miret ordered Fraley’s sentence to be followed by five years post-release supervision.
According to trial testimony and charges, Fraley entered Rojas Deli on Hillside Avenue in the afternoon of Aug. 12, 2021, where he shot the owner, Rufino Rojas-Flores, in the chest and demanded money from the cash register. Further investigations led to the discovery of a .357 caliber revolver, a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and over 12 ounces of heroin at Fraley’s residence.
The Queens District Attorney’s office encourages anyone with additional information to come forward.