Related Federal Cases
Armed Robbery in Tampa Ends in Shooting, Cocoa Man Charged
A brazen armed robbery in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood turned deadly on February 1, 2025, as a 21-year-old Cocoa man allegedly shot an employee in the face.
Phillip Johnson, 21, has been charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, according to a federal complaint filed in the Middle District of Florida.
Johnson, along with two accomplices, reportedly traveled from Brevard County to Tampa to commit the robbery, donning all-black clothing, ski masks, and armed with rifles and handguns.
While inside the Dreams Club, the trio demanded money from the victim, and Johnson ultimately shot the victim in the face.
If convicted on all counts, Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
A federal 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.
The case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with great assistance provided by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department, and the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa.
Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes will be prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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