Sisters sentenced for luring man from Allentown bar to robbery in Bethlehem

Both women testified against a man who allegedly attacked the victim during the robbery, but the man was acquitted by a jury on all charges.

View full sizeA pair of sisters received the same prison sentence today for their roles in luring an Allentown man from a city bar to a planned robbery in Bethlehem.

A pair of sisters received the same prison sentence today for their roles in luring an Allentown man from a city bar to a planned robbery in Bethlehem.

Lionette Cruz, 24, of Bethlehem, and Milagros Cruz, 26, of Brooklyn, were each sentenced today to 11 1/2 months to 23 months in prison, a sentence agreed to as part of their plea deal.

Both women previously pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Both women were free on bail and one recently gave birth to a baby girl. Before they were sentenced, the sisters were seen tearfully saying goodbye to family in the courtroom gallery.

Police said the Cruz sisters met the victim and his friend on March 24, 2012, at Stahley's Cellarette on Hanover Avenue in Allentown and invited them to a party.

The friend had to drop off his sister first, so the Allentown man agreed to ride with the women to the party, according to police.

The women drove the victim to the parking lot of Lehigh Valley Transportation Services at 1801 W. Market St. in Bethlehem, where they parked and Ivory Louis King allegedly jumped out from the back of the van, records say.

King was accused of hitting the victim repeatedly with a heavy object, including in the back of the head, while the Cruz sisters punched and kicked him, reports say.

Police said the trio took $140 from the Allentown man, who was able to jump out of the van at some point during the assault.

The victim had a fractured lower left jaw and suffered a puncture wound to his left abdomen during the attack, records say. He also had several cuts to his head and face, two of which required stitches, reports say.

King went to trial in August on charges of aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy and theft. Both Cruz sisters testified in the case as part of their plea deal. King was acquitted on all charges by the jury.

"Whether we agree or disagree with the verdict, the verdict stands," Judge Robert Steinberg said, adding that both women did not have a criminal history before this incident.