TAMPA, FL – Enrique Marquez, 26, of Tampa, has admitted to a brazen spree of armed robberies targeting convenience stores across the city this past May. Marquez pleaded guilty this week to four counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The feds say Marquez and his crew terrorized local store clerks, holding them up at gunpoint.
According to court documents, Marquez and his accomplices first struck on May 5, 2022, hitting two separate convenience stores in the Tampa area. Each time, Marquez allegedly brandished a firearm, escalating the threat to both employees and potential customers. The next morning, the same crew reportedly continued their rampage, robbing two more Tampa convenience stores using the same violent tactic.
But the crime spree didn’t stop at convenience stores. On May 1, 2022, just days before the robberies, Marquez and at least one co-defendant allegedly attempted to rob an individual in a bid to obtain narcotics. While that attempt was unsuccessful, it paints a picture of a dangerous individual willing to resort to violence for personal gain.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, meticulously building a case against Marquez and his associates. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Newman is prosecuting the case, with forfeiture handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. The government isn’t revealing much about the co-defendants at this time, only that they are cooperating with the investigation.
Marquez now faces a hefty sentence. Each robbery and conspiracy count carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison. But the real kicker is the firearms charges. Those carry a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years, and could climb to life in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. A sentencing date has not yet been set, leaving Marquez facing a very uncertain future.
U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg framed the prosecution as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a renewed effort under PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. Whether this case truly contributes to safer neighborhoods remains to be seen, but for now, one dangerous criminal is off the streets.
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