The U.S. Attorney's Office in Albuquerque has obtained a guilty verdict against Jason Pete Roper, 45, for robbing three Ross clothing stores, an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and FBI's Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda detailed the outcome of a notably swift federal jury decision. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the jury deliberated for less than two hours following a three-day trial, which culminated in Roper's conviction on three counts of robbery.
Roper, who previously served time for an armed bank robbery and was on federal probation, committed the series of robberies within less than a month. Between August 14 and September 8, 2022, he targeted various Ross establishments in Albuquerque, each time approaching the checkout with small items before threatening cashiers with a handgun and demanding money from the registers. In total, the heists netted approximately $1,800.
The evidence presented during the trial included details of the robberies and testimony regarding Roper's method of brandishing a silver and black handgun to intimidate employees during the thefts. The conclusive guilty verdict means that Roper could potentially face up to 20 years in prison, a sentencing he awaits in custody. It was emphasized by the prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Stanford and Samuel Hurtado, that there is no parole in the federal system, underlining the possible severity of Roper's sentence.
Investigations leading up to the successful prosecution of Roper were jointly carried out by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Albuquerque Police Department. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not announce a date for Roper's sentencing, however, the conviction itself marks another instance of their continuing efforts to address repeat offenders. Both Uballez and Bujanda, have made clear through their announcement, the collaborative work between various law enforcement agencies in bringing Roper's criminal activities to a halt.
