Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the filing of a criminal complaint charging Taleah Williams (21, North Fort Myers) and Javion Ward (21, Fort Myers) with Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, Williams and Ward conspired to commit numerous armed robberies the week of September 15, 2025, in Hillsborough, Sumter, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, all in close proximity to I-75. For each robbery, Williams or Ward entered the stores armed with a firearm and demanded money from the clerk.
Williams is accused of devising the plan to rob stores near I-75, providing both the vehicle and the firearm used. On September 16, 2025, Ward and Williams targeted a convenience store in Tampa, where Ward brandished a pistol and obtained about $600.
In the early morning of September 17, 2025, the duo attempted to rob a gas station in Lake Panasoffkee before leaving empty-handed. The following day, they struck again at four more stores – in Gibsonton, Ellenton, Nokomis, and North Port. Ward threatened violence in several instances.
A few hours after their last heist, Williams posted photos on social media of the pair with cash in hand. On September 20, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williams’s residence, recovering items matching clothing worn during the robberies.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at eliminating criminal organizations and protecting communities from violent crime. It was investigated by the FBI with assistance from multiple local agencies and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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