Johnny Flores, Tampa Serial Robber Convicted, Florida 2024

Tampa serial robber Johnny Flores has been convicted of three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, authorities announced.

Flores, 45, of Tampa, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg said.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2024.

According to evidence presented at trial, between February 13 and February 25, 2022, Flores entered three Tampa businesses wearing a hooded sweatshirt and facial covering, brandishing and threatening the victims with a weapon and removing cash from the registers.

Flores verbally and physically assaulted the victims during the course of the three robberies.

Flores was initially identified through video surveillance recordings that showed him leaving two of the robberies in a vehicle that was traced back to an individual. That individual identified Flores but died prior to the trial.

A second individual had dropped Flores off near the remaining robbery, though he testified that he didn't know Flores had committed a robbery, he did acknowledge driving Flores to a location near the robbery.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tampa Police Department.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/tampa-serial-robber-convicted