JACKSON, MS – A Jackson man will likely spend a significant portion of his life behind bars after admitting to a brazen armed robbery that terrorized employees at a local gas station. Joshua Johnson, 25, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee to robbing the Exxon Service Station on I-55 North, brandishing a firearm, and illegally possessing a weapon as a convicted felon.
The crime unfolded on November 21, 2018, around 3:00 a.m. when officers with the Jackson Police Department responded to a panicked call from the Exxon at 4611 I-55 North. Witnesses told investigators that Johnson stormed into the business, immediately leveling a gun at the terrified clerks. He didn’t hesitate, snatching approximately $374 in cash from the registers and even rifling through the pockets of a customer.
The quick response of the Jackson Police Department brought Johnson down shortly after the robbery. Officers apprehended him near the scene, recovering the stolen cash and the weapon used in the commission of the crime. Evidence quickly linked Johnson to the robbery, leading to federal charges that carry a hefty potential sentence.
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the guilty plea, highlighting the collaborative effort to bring violent offenders to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Mayberry is prosecuting the case, ensuring Johnson is held accountable for his actions.
This case isn’t an isolated incident; it’s part of Project EJECT, a focused initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. Project EJECT, an extension of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), takes a comprehensive approach to tackling violent crime – going beyond just prosecution to include prevention, re-entry programs, and community awareness. The acronym stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.”
Johnson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for September 12, 2019, before Judge Lee. The outcome will send a clear message: armed robbery won’t be tolerated in Jackson, and those who prey on our communities will face the full weight of the law. PSN, reinvigorated in 2017 by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, emphasizes partnerships between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to build safer neighborhoods.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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