A Providence man has been sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for robbing a convenience store clerk at gunpoint in April 2011 and for robbing and assaulting a restaurant owner two days later.
Alphonso D. Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty on October 10, 2012, to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Johnson was sentenced to 312 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. He was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
According to the investigation, Johnson robbed a Providence convenience store clerk at gunpoint on April 18, 2011, of several hundred dollars in cash, cigarettes, and a box of cigars. Two days later, he robbed a West End restaurant owner at gunpoint of more than $4,300 in cash in restaurant proceeds.
Johnson struck the restaurant owner in the face twice with a .25 caliber pistol and kicked her before fleeing on foot. Providence Police officers quickly canvassed the neighborhood and located Johnson hiding between two parked cars a few blocks away.
Johnson has a long history of crime, including multiple convictions as a juvenile and felony convictions as an adult for felonious assault, possession of narcotics, simple assaults, domestic assault, and threats to a public official.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose, with the assistance of the Providence Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Johnson has been detained since his arrest by Providence Police in April 2011.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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