Tampa Serial Robber Convicted of Multiple Robberies
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Johnny Flores, 45, of Tampa, has been convicted by a federal jury on three counts of Hobbs Act robbery. Flores faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for July 22, 2024.
The trial revealed that between February 13 and February 25, 2022, Flores committed a series of robberies at three Tampa businesses. Wearing a hooded sweatshirt and facial covering, Flores brandished a weapon, threatened the victims, and forcibly removed cash from the registers. During these incidents, he also verbally and physically assaulted the victims.
Video surveillance footage played a crucial role in identifying Flores. Recordings showed him leaving two of the robbery scenes in a vehicle that was traced back to an associate who had identified Flores before passing away prior to the trial. Another individual testified that he had unknowingly driven Flores near the location of the third robbery. Additional surveillance footage from a clinic showed Flores in similar clothing to that worn during the robberies, further aiding law enforcement in his identification.
The case was thoroughly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Tampa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman is prosecuting the case.
This conviction is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that unites law enforcement agencies and communities to combat violent crime and enhance public safety. The program, bolstered by a Department of Justice violent crime reduction strategy launched on May 26, 2021, emphasizes building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the outcomes to ensure safer neighborhoods for everyone.
For more updates on this case and other news, stay tuned to local reports and official announcements from the United States Attorney’s Office.
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