Roberto Juan Morales, a 49-year-old man originally from Mexico, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after a tense business robbery in Memphis, Tennessee. The United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, D. Michael Dunavant, announced the details of the case. According to court records, Morales used an AR-style rifle to threaten and ultimately fire a shot near a store clerk during the robbery of the Supermercado Guatemala store on Winchester Road back in March 2025.
The robbery, captured on surveillance video, led to a widespread investigation. License plate readers helped to quickly identify Morales' vehicle, and this marked the beginning of the end for the defendant's short-lived escape. Investigators were able not only find the vehicle but also to locate items worn during the robbery and to confirm Morales' presence at the scene through cell phone records. The search uncovered that Morales had illegally entered the United States, having been deported to Mexico at least four times prior, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
After pleading guilty to business robbery, discharging a firearm in relation to the robbery, and possession of ammunition as an illegal alien in September 2025, Morales was sentenced just recently on January 22, 2026. Federal District Judge Thomas L. Parker delivered a sentence of 132 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. "Criminal aliens not only threaten the sovereignty of our nation, but also threaten the safety of our communities," Dunavant was quoted as saying in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Reactions from law enforcement were unanimous in their support of the sentencing, highlighting the collaborative effort to uphold public safety. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Joseph E. Carrico, the Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Nashville Field Office, said, "This sentence should send a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners make it a priority to bring to justice those who resort to robbery for ill-gotten gain." He also added, "We are stronger when we work together to combat violent crime and will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships." The case was investigated by the FBI along with the Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force, as part of efforts to prosecute violent crimes in the Memphis area.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite was the prosecutor on this case, which emphasizes the government's ongoing commitment to immigration enforcement and the targeting of those who continue to commit crimes following illegal entry into the United States. With no parole available in the federal system, Morales will likely serve the entire 11-year prison term.
