Miami felon convicted at trial of armed Hobbs Act robbery

MIAMI – On Jan. 24, a federal jury found a Miami felon guilty of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

During a six-day trial, the government presented DNA, firearms and ballistics, cell-site data, surveillance footage, photographic, testimonial, forensic, and other evidence showing that on April 3, 2022, Frederick Lee Alvin, 39, of Miami, Florida, robbed a market in Little Havana. After Alvin entered the store wearing a mask and dressed in all black, he demanded money from the register, fired a gun at the cashier’s feet, and fled with $3,400 from the register and the cashier’s wallet. Alvin was later arrested at a local motel in possession of the same firearm that he used during the market robbery.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 17 before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz. Alvin faces up to life in prison. Alvin had been previously convicted of three prior felony offenses, which triggered the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) enhancement.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, announced the conviction.

ATF Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Rosenzweig and Abbie Waxman are prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture.

This prosecution is a part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through the PSN program a broad spectrum of law enforcement and community stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to reduce violence crime and gun violence, and to make our local neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20244.

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