Department of Justice

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the conviction of MARIO MARTELL SPENCER, 34, AHMED OSMAN FARAH, 32, for the armed robbery of a Minneapolis convenience store. Following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, the jury found SPENCER and FARAH guilty on all counts.

 

“Mr. Spencer and Mr. Farah carried out the armed robbery of a small business located in a residential neighborhood,” said U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald. “This guilty verdict is a just result and a demonstration of our commitment to keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe from violent criminals.”

 

As proven at trial, on March 23, 2018, around 8:30 p.m., SPENCER and FARAH entered Penn-Wood Market, located on Glenwood Avenue in Minneapolis, wearing masks and gloves. SPENCER held two employees at gunpoint while FARAH took money from the cash registers and stole one employee’s cell phone. The two defendants fled the scene in a vehicle. A witness called 911 as the robbery was in progress and, shortly after, responding officers were able to locate the defendants’ unoccupied vehicle, which had crashed into a garage. Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the area of the crash site and, following a foot chase, were able to apprehend and arrest FARAH.With the assistance of a K9, law enforcement officers initiated a systematic search inside the perimeter and eventually found SPENCER hiding on top of the roof of a garage.

 

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Justin A. Wesley tried the case.

 

Defendant Information:

 

MARIO MARTELL SPENCER, 34

St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted: 

Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count 

Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count

 

AHMED OSMAN FARAH, 32

Maplewood, Minn.

Convicted:

Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count 

Using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count