A man pleaded guilty on Thursday to robbing two American visitors in their hotel rooms and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Anthony Green Jr., 20, appeared before Justice Carolita Bethell and admitted his role in crimes that the judge said "struck at the heart of the tourist industry".

In the first case, Green pleaded guilty to housebreaking and robbery in connection with the November 11, 2012 incident in which Joseph Martino was robbed of $5,668 cash, $5,000 in traveler's checks and a Rolex watch.

Prosecutor Darell Taylor said Green and another man barged into Martino's room at the Wyndham hotel after taking the same elevator as him from the casino.

She said the men tied up Martino and threatened to kill him if he didn't give them the combination to his in-room safe. Martino complied and the men raided the safe and fled.

The second incident took place at the Sheraton hotel on Cable Beach on December 13, 2012. Green pleaded guilty to the armed robbery and attempted murder of Mark Kowalski.

Kowalski was in his room when he heard a knock on the door, according to Taylor. Two men forced their way inside when he partially opened the door, Taylor said.

Kowalski resisted the robbery and was stabbed in the chest and his ring finger was almost severed.

Green's lawyer Christina Galanos said Green pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had no previous convictions. Justice Bethell did not depart from the sentencing recommendation of 12 years in Green's plea agreement.

However, she told him his actions had far-reaching consequences for the tourism industry.

She said many Bahamians were employed because of visitors like Martino and Kowalski.

Bethell said although Green was a teenager when the crimes were committed, he was considered an adult as he was able to vote and get married without the consent of a guardian.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian