A Miami man with a criminal past has been convicted by a federal jury for an armed robbery in Little Havana last year, falling prey to the stringent hand of the Hobbs Act. Frederick Lee Alvin, 39, was found guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, the actual Hobbs Act robbery itself, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida announced.
The six-day trial painted a vivid picture of the April 3 robbery, where Alvin, clad in black and masked, fired a gun at the cashier's feet after demanding cash from the market's till. Wearing a mask and dressed in all black, he escaped with $3,400 from the register and the cashier's wallet. Arrested in a local motel, Alvin was found with the very same firearm used during the crime spree.
The weight of evidence that piled up against Alvin included DNA, ballistics, and cell-site data, surveillance footage, along with various other forms of forensic evidence. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe and ATF's Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson highlighted the conviction, tying it to the success of the multifaceted Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, aimed at reigning in violent crimes and gun violence.
Scheduled for sentencing on April 17 by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz, Alvin — previously convicted of three prior felony offenses — now stares down the barrel of a potential life sentence, with the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) enhancement looming over his fate. Assisting in the case's prosecution were Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Rosenzweig and Abbie Waxman, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is in charge of asset forfeiture, ensuring that all possibile measures are taken against the convicted felon.
Embodying the U.S. Department of Justice's aggressive stance on violent crime through PSN, this case showcased a coalition of law enforcement and community stakeholders banding together. PSN's evidence-based approach is heralded for its effectiveness in curbing violence and fostering safer neighborhoods, and with Alvin's conviction, serves as a stark reminder of the program's resolve.
