Mario Martell Spencer, Armed Robbery, Minnesota 2018

Grimy Times

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - Two men were found guilty of robbing a North Minneapolis convenience store in a brazen armed heist that left victims shaken.

Mario Martell Spencer, 34, and Ahmed Osman Farah, 32, were convicted of interference with commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On March 23, 2018, at around 8:30 p.m., Spencer and Farah entered Penn-Wood Market, located on Glenwood Avenue in Minneapolis, wearing masks and gloves.

Spencer held two employees at gunpoint while Farah took money from the cash registers and stole one employee’s cell phone.

The two defendants fled the scene in a vehicle after the robbery. A witness called 911 as the robbery was in progress and responding officers were able to locate the defendants’ unoccupied vehicle, which had crashed into a garage.

Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the area of the crash site and, following a foot chase, were able to apprehend and arrest Farah. With the assistance of a K9, law enforcement officers initiated a systematic search inside the perimeter and eventually found Spencer hiding on top of the roof of a garage.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Justin A. Wesley tried the case.

Defendant Information:

Mario Martell Spencer, 34, St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:

Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count

Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count

Ahmed Osman Farah, 32, Maplewood, Minn.

Convicted:

Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count

Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/two-men-found-guilty-robbing-north-minneapolis-convenience-store