FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY - February 17, 2011
TWO DEFENDANTS IN FEDERAL COURT FOR ROBBERY
RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in two defendants appeared in federal court this week in connection with their involvement in the February 11, 2009, robbery of a Pack Mart Store. On February 15, 2011, MIGUEL ANGELES, 18, was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release. Today, JOANI HERNANDEZ, 19, pled guilty to robbery of a business in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and using and carrying of a firearm during a federal crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over both hearings.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal Indictment on November 19, 2009. On November 25, 2010, ANGELES pled guilty to the same charges.
On February 11, 2009, four individuals robbed the Pack Mart Store (BP) on Ashe Avenue in Raleigh. HERNANDEZ, ANGELES, and Jose Carlos Diaz-Hernandez entered the store, two armed with assault-style rifles and one was armed with a handgun. Castillo remained in the car as the getaway driver. The group demanded the money from the cash register. After the robbery the four fled the area in an automobile. Officers in the area observed their vehicle operating with no headlights. Officers stopped the vehicle and found the four inside the car. Two assault style-rifles and a Model RG-14, .22 caliber revolver could be readily seen in the rear seat.
Sentencing for HERNANDEZ is set for the May 16, 2011, term of court, at which time he faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the charge of robbery of a business in interstate commerce and up to a term of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed, for using and carrying a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods(PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Raleigh Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson represented the government.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.
