Bernard Robinson, Hotel Robbery, Texas 2018

A brutal hotel robbery in Houston, Texas, has led to the arrest of a third suspect, identified as Bernard Robinson, 19. The alleged member of the 103 criminal street gang was taken into custody after a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Robinson, Leonard Murphy, 19, and Corey Bishop, 20.

The indictment alleges that on July 26, 2018, law enforcement responded to an aggravated robbery at the America's Best Value Inn on the Southeast side of Houston. Upon arrival, authorities discovered that a group of males, including Robinson, Murphy, and Bishop, had allegedly confronted the hotel's clerk and demanded access to the cash kept in the lobby. According to the charges, the three men pistol-whipped the clerk and ultimately shot him.

After stealing the money, they fled from the hotel and into a waiting vehicle, leaving behind a trail of violence and destruction. The investigation was conducted by the Houston Police Department and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Collins is prosecuting the case.

Robinson is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan today at 10:00 a.m. He is charged with one count of robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the robbery, with a minimum of 10 years serving consecutively to any other prison term imposed.

Each conviction also carries a possible fine of up to $250,000. The Houston Police Department and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Collins is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Robinson, Murphy, and Bishop are currently set for trial in October 2019. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of gang-related crime and the importance of law enforcement's efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/third-man-arrested-hotel-robbery