Hampton Man Accused in a String of Armed Robberies
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Christian Lamont Johnson, 23, of Hampton, Va., was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury accused of robbing at gunpoint three businesses in the Hampton Roads region.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Richard W. Marianos, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement.
Johnson is charged with three counts of robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, which each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, if convicted. He is also charged with two counts of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carry a five-year mandatory minimum sentence if convicted on the first count, followed by a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence if convicted on the second count. Both firearm sentences would run consecutive to any other sentence received.
The indictment alleges that Johnson committed three armed robberies between June 21 and July 3, 2012, a check-cashing business in Norfolk and two 7-11 convenience stores in Chesapeake and Hampton. In total, Johnson allegedly obtained approximately $1,850. Authorities apprehended Johnson on July 3, 2012 as he fled from the Hampton robbery.
This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Division, the Norfolk Police Department, Chesapeake Police Department, and the Hampton Police Division. Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam Small is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.
