Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Phillip Johnson (21, Cocoa) with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
If convicted on all counts, Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the complaint, during the early morning hours of February 1, 2025, three individuals travelled from Brevard County to Tampa to commit a robbery.
After arriving in Tampa, the three individuals went inside the Dreams Club near Ybor City. The three individuals were wearing all-black clothing and ski masks and armed with rifles and handguns.
While inside, the three individuals demanded money from the victim, and Johnson ultimately shot the victim in the face.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
