Jaia Cruz pleads guilty, sentenced to 15 years for fatal stabbing of postal worker in Harlem

Jaia Cruz, 24, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection with the fatal stabbing of postal worker Ray Hodge III at a Harlem deli following an argument over line placement. As part of a plea deal, Cruz received a sentence of 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release, a decision that sparked outrage from Hodge’s family, who felt the punishment was too lenient for the loss of a loved one. The incident occurred after a heated dispute escalated, leading Cruz to stab Hodge multiple times, resulting in his death at a local hospital. Hodge’s mother and other family members publicly condemned the plea deal, expressing that it did not deliver justice for Ray Hodge. Prosecutors initially charged Cruz with second-degree murder, but this was dropped in exchange for the guilty plea to manslaughter. The sentencing is expected to take place later in the month.