Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Isaiah Stokes has been sentenced to 25 years to life for the 2021 shooting murder of Tyrone Jones.
Stokes, aged 45, was convicted of second-degree murder and two counts of possessing a weapon illegally on March 13, after a jury trial that lasted two weeks.
Victim Jones, 37 years old, was targeted by Stokes for four months after an incident at Jones’ birthday gathering. Jones suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head and chest, leading to their death on February 7, 2021, in St. Albans, Queens, New York.
Stokes was arrested for the ambush murder six months later on July 16, 2021.
Stokes appeared distressed when the verdict was announced on Friday, which was met with applause from the family and friends of Jones. Prior to the sentencing, the judge reprimanded Stokes for his behavior, including his disruptive motions and interruptions during the sentencing proceeding.
As a defiant Stokes muttered at Judge Kenneth Holder, the justice exploded: ‘I don’t care what you said! I don’t care if you maintain your innocence, you are more guilty than anyone I’ve seen in this courtroom!’
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor Isaiah Stokes has been sentenced to 25 years to life for the 2021 shooting death of Tyrone Jones – pictured Friday
The Queens native portayed the character Tyrone Beckwith in one episode during season 10 of NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which aired back in 2009
Holder said: ‘You thought staying in jail for as long as you can would do wonders for your movie career when you got out
‘But here’s the problem, you have to get out and you’re not getting out, no-one can intentionally plan a murder and carry it out as stupidly as you did.
‘You were angry over a beatdown you got months earlier, you had all that rage consuming you for months and hatched this ridiculous plan
‘You hunted down Jones and shot him 11 times and ensured he would die… ironically the murderous rage you undertook presents you with the notoriety you hope for.
‘You’re now an example of how one can completely ruin their life in the blink of an eye.’
Stokes and Holder earlier locked horns as the actor dragged up previous motions in his case and claimed he ‘never received’ the entire discovery files.
Holder said: ‘You need to talk to me about why I shouldn’t sentence you in a particular way. I don’t need to hear you talk to me about motions from before, we’re past that,
‘You were convicted so you need to talk to me about why I should have some mercy on you in the sentencing. I don’t want to hear about any motions that’s all done.
Stokes looked gaunt as he took his seat in court before sentencing
The 37-year-old victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest and was pronounced dead on the scene, and Stokes was arrested for the murder six months later on July 16, 2021
Tyrone Jones’ father, Tyrone Jones Sr, wept as he addressed Stokes directly for ‘stalking and murdering my only son’
Stokes and Judge Kenneth Holder locked horns as the actor attempted to discuss previous motions in his case and claimed he ‘never received’ the entire discovery files
As a defiant Stokes muttered at Holder, the justice exploded: ‘I don’t care what you said! I don’t care if you maintain your innocence, you are more guilty than anyone I’ve seen in this courtroom!’
‘We’re past that, you’re not a lawyer and frankly you don’t know what you’re talking about, you need to talk to me about what’s important.’
Holder recalled how he, and Stokes’ past attorneys had ‘strenuously recommended’ he take a plea deal after seeing video evidence, which was declined.
Referencing Stokes’ past success as an actor, he said: ‘You have some small degree of talent, impressive talent, what makes this whole thing so perplexing
‘Why would you throw all this away for a fight that you said was “no big deal”.., that clearly was a lie.’
Queen’s District Attorney Katz Melinda Katz said in a statement: ‘Isaiah Stokes, embarrassed and upset that he was thrown out of a birthday party in October 2020, sought revenge on Tyrone Jones.
‘Months later, the defendant attached a GPS tracking device to his victim’s vehicle and stalked Jones for more than a week. Stokes tracked Jones down to Linden Boulevard and fired 11 times into Jones’ vehicle, striking the man in his head and chest.
‘Justice has now been served for the premeditated murder perpetrated by this defendant and he will now spend 25 years to life in prison as a direct consequence of his criminal actions.’
In an heartbreaking victim impact statement, Tyrone’s father, Tyrone Jones Sr., slammed ‘monster’ Stokes for ‘stalking and murdering’ his only son.
He said: ‘TJ was fun, loving, he is my son, a brother, uncle and a nephew
‘What I don’t want to remember is the day that you decided to murder my son
‘I lost my only son on February 7 2021, TJ did not die from a car accident or a disease but by the hand of a monster, Isaiah Stokes
‘Isaiah, you stalked my son, you followed TJ for weeks, but TJ… What did TJ do to you?
‘As TJ sat in his car and was unaware…
‘You lied to everyone! I gotta go to the cemetery to talk to my son in a grave.’
Isaiah – who’s being held at New York jail Rikers Island – was barely recognizable at a pre-trial hearing on July 24 since he’d lost so much weight.
Katz said of the shooting in a previous statement: ‘This was a calculated murder. The defendant, a part-time actor, stewed for months after being thrown out of a [2020] birthday party for his own inappropriate behavior [toward female party guests].
‘Intent on revenge, Isaiah Stokes placed a GPS on the victim’s car and tracked Tyrone Jones down to Linden Boulevard, where he ruthlessly shot the man 11 times as he sat in his [parked Jeep Cherokee].
‘My office is laser-focused on gun violence, and we will utilize every tool at our disposal to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who use deadly guns on our streets. I thank our prosecutors and the NYPD detectives who built this case.’
The Queens native portrayed the character Tyrone Beckwith in one episode during season 10 of NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which aired back in 2009.
The 45-year-old rapper-actor was found guilty of murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree following a two-week jury trial, which began on February 13
Isaiah – who’s being held at New York jail Rikers Island – was barely recognizable at a pre-trial hearing on July 24 since he’d lost so much weight
Isaiah played two different roles – drugstore employee and spitting guy – during seasons two and four of disgraced comedian Louis C.K.’s FX series Louie in 2011 and 2014
Stokes’ last credited acting gig was in 2019 guest-starring as Mozzy in one season six episode of Starz show Power executive produced by 50 Cent
In 2006, Isaiah had a two-episode arc as the shooter who murdered NYPD detective Johnny Gavin (Dean Winters) in season three of FX’s Rescue Me.
In 2011, Stokes played the character Louis in the second season of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.
The FONTY Records founder played two different roles – drugstore employee and spitting guy – during seasons two and four of disgraced comedian Louis C.K.’s FX series Louie in 2011 and 2014.
Isaiah’s last credited acting gig was in 2019 guest-starring as Mozzy in one season six episode of Starz show Power executive produced by 50 Cent.
Stokes’ last music release was the track Persona of a Hustler in 2023 under his hip-hop alias is I$AIAH.
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