Federal Jury Convicts Pawn Shop Robber at Trial
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces that a federal jury has found Terry Alonzo Wilson (53, Tampa) guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, brandishing a firearm during a robbery, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Wilson faces a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 4, 2019.
Wilson was indicted on October 16, 2018.
According to evidence presented at trial, on September 14, 2018, Wilson and another individual robbed the Value Pawn & Jewelry located at 5401 North 40th Street in Tampa. During the robbery, Wilson pointed a pistol at two employees and a customer who were inside the store and threatened to kill them. Wilson also brought zip ties to the robbery and instructed his partner to tie up the employees and the customer. Wilson forced the store manager to unhook the store’s security video recording system, which Wilson took with him when he left the store.
Wilson and his partner took more than $60,000 in jewelry and cash from the shop.
Wilson had previously served prison time for robbing another Tampa pawn shop at gunpoint.
Wilson’s co-defendant, Jeremy Williams (35, Miami), previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. Williams faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 12, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of 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 for lasting reductions in crime. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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