Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and Gun Charges
A 23-year-old Rochester man has pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
Johnny Blackshell, Jr., of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to charges of Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison, a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine.
On August 10, 2015, at approximately 3:20 a.m., Blackshell and co-defendant Joseph Lowry entered the 7-Eleven convenience store located on Lake Avenue in Rochester intending to rob both cash and goods.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas E. Gregory and Brett Harvey stated that after entering the store, the defendant and Lowry jumped over the service desk and ordered the employees to the ground.
Blackshell then pointed a silver handgun at the victim’s head and instructed the victim to open the cash register. Lowry took $80 in United States currency from the cash register. In addition to the money, Blackshell and Lowry took an unknown quantity of Newport Cigarettes, tobacco, chewing gum, and numerous rolls of New York State scratch-off lottery tickets.
The two then left the store and ran eastbound towards Lake Avenue. Several of the stolen lottery tickets were later redeemed, and attempted to be redeemed, as winners. Blackshell received monies for the winning lottery tickets.
Blackshell was previously sentenced in state court to life in prison without parole for the murders of Johnny Johnson, Raekwon Manigault, and Jonah Barley during a mass shooting outside the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester on August 19, 2015.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.
Defendant: Johnny Blackshell, Jr.
Crime: Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
City and State: Rochester, New York
Exact Date: August 10, 2015
Sentence or Outcome: 7 years to life in prison, $250,000 fine
Dollar Amounts: $80
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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