A Warren man who was convicted of felony murder related to a home invasion-turn murder in 2012 will spend 40 years in prison.
Niraj Patel, 28, could have faced a total of 200 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of felony murder, accessory to home invasion, accessory to burglary with a deadly weapon and other charges.
In August of 2012, Patel and two others allegedly broke into the home of Lucas Vitalis, 24 and tied up his mother Rita. Vitalis was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound.
Prosecutors said Niraj Patel orchestrated the crime by setting up a fake drug deal. They said Patel wanted money to pay an attorney who was representing him on drug charges.
He has been sentenced to 60 years in prison, suspended after 40 years, with five years of probation.
