Tampa Serial Robber Convicted of 3 Hobbs Act Robberies, Faces 20 Years Behind Bars
Tampa, Florida – In a major blow to the city’s crime wave, a federal jury has found 45-year-old Tampa resident Johnny Flores guilty of three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison per count.
The guilty verdict comes after a month-long trial, where prosecutors presented evidence that Flores, a serial robber, terrorized three Tampa businesses between February 13 and February 25, 2022. The brazen robberies left a trail of violence and fear in their wake.
According to court documents, Flores, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and facial covering, brandished a weapon and threatened the victims at each of the three locations. He verbally and physically assaulted the victims during the robberies, leaving them shaken and traumatized.
The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tampa Police Department, was a collaborative effort that spanned months. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
While Flores’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2024, the guilty verdict is a significant victory for law enforcement and the community. The case marks another success for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in neighborhoods across the country.
“This conviction sends a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated in our city,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.”
The case is part of a larger violent crime reduction strategy launched by the Department of Justice in 2021, aimed at fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, and setting focused enforcement priorities.
In a bizarre twist, the individual who initially identified Flores had died prior to the trial, but their testimony still played a crucial role in securing the conviction. A second individual, who had dropped Flores off near one of the robberies, testified that he had no knowledge of the crime, but admitted to driving Flores to a location near the scene.
The evidence against Flores was overwhelming, with video surveillance recordings capturing his likeness at a clinic prior to the robberies, and further footage showing him fleeing the crime scenes in a vehicle linked to the initial individual who identified him.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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