Anthony Johnson, Hobbs Act Robbery, Pennsylvania 2019

HARRISBURG – In a stunning verdict, 51-year-old Anthony Johnson, of York, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, in a case that shocked the community.

According to prosecutors, Johnson and his co-conspirator brutally robbed and shot the victim in the head on Girard Avenue, York, on January 9, 2016. The victim, who remained in a comatose state for at least four months, required three brain surgeries and other life-saving medical interventions to repair the damage caused by Johnson and his accomplice.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered the gun used to shoot the victim, a stolen Smith and Wesson 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol, from Johnson’s co-conspirator during her arrest on January 13, 2016.

U.S. Attorney David J. Freed praised the bravery of the victim and the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies involved in the case. ‘This conviction sends a strong message that violent crimes will not be tolerated in our communities,’ he said.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys William A. Behe and Meredith A. Taylor prosecuted the case.

Johnson’s conviction for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence will subject him to a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, which must be served consecutively to any sentence Judge Sylvia H. Rambo imposes on the Hobbs Act robbery conviction.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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