Julio Francia, Armed Robbery, New Mexico 2012

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - Julio Francia, 23, of Albuquerque, N. M., was sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for robbing five Albuquerque-area businesses and for carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.

Francia's sentence was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Steven C. Yarbrough, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg, Carol K.O. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, and Chief Allen Banks of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Francia was arrested on state charges on Oct. 17, 2012, on allegations that he committed an armed robbery at a Subway Restaurant located at 8520 Montgomery Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.

After Francia admitted committing a number of armed robberies at commercial businesses in Albuquerque, including the Subway Restaurant, between Aug. 2012 and Oct. 2012, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office charged Francia with numerous armed robbery offenses.

On Nov. 27, 2012, Francia was federally indicted and charged with violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a business in interstate commerce and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

The charges in the indictment arose out of the armed robbery of the Subway Restaurant on Oct. 17, 2012. On Feb 6, 2013, Francia was transferred from state custody to federal custody to face the charges in the federal indictment and the state charges against Francia subsequently were dismissed.

This case was brought as part of a law enforcement initiative launched in July 2012, by the FBI's Violent Crimes and Major Offender Squad and the Albuquerque Police Department's Armed Robbery Unit that targets suspects implicated in commercial armed robberies.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/albuquerque-man-sentenced-175-years-federal-prison-robbing-five-businesses-during-three