A Bronx man was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday after he was accused of robbing a 72-year-old woman with a kitchen knife in a Greenvale parking lot in March, according to the District Attorney’s office.

According to Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas, Benis Solis, 24, was in the T.J. Maxx parking lot in Greenvale on March 17 around 6:30 p.m. when he approached the 72-year-old woman who was placing packages in her maroon Nissan Murano. 

Solis, armed with a kitchen knife with an approximately six-inch blade, approached the victim from behind and placed the knife to her neck, Singas said.

Solis demanded that the woman give him a ring on her left ring finger, Singas said. 

According to Singas, when the woman was unable to give Solis the ring quickly enough, Solis bit her hand, which caused bleeding and bruising. 

Solis then fled the property, Singas said. The ring was never recovered. 

“This cowardly defendant snuck up on a 72-year-old woman, placed a knife to her throat, bit her left ring finger to get a piece of jewelry off her hand and then ran away,” Singas said. “Crimes against the elderly are especially despicable.”

DNA evidence taken from the woman’s finger led Nassau County Police Department detectives to Solis, who was arrested in front of his home on May 13, according to Singas. 

Solis pled guilty to first degree attempted robbery on August 24 before Acting Supreme Court Justice David Sullivan, the District Attorney’s office said. Sullivan was also the judge who sentenced Solis on Thursday.