Source: Office of United States Attorneys
McALLEN, Texas – Two Donna residents have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of armed robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Robert Jae Franco, 23, and Alejandro Isaiah Gonzalez, 22, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery Oct. 18 and Nov. 8, 2024, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered both men to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the sentencing, the court heard evidence that Franco had previously been convicted of aggravated assault and alien smuggling while Gonzalez had convictions for three separate burglary events.
“Innocent people should not be tormented for just doing their jobs,” said Ganjei.” These repeat offenders put lives in danger for nothing more than a few bucks in their pockets, but thankfully, they can no longer terrorize our citizens and will pay for their violent acts now in federal prison.”
On Jan. 27, 2024, Franco and Gonzalez robbed two Smoke Shops in Pharr and Donna at gunpoint. Surveillance video from each location showed the masked and armed men enter the stores and rush the store employees while demanding money from the registers.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with police departments in Pharr, Donna and McAllen as part of Operation: Knock Down. The initiative began in 2020 as a joint-ATF/U.S. Attorney’s Office program focusing on bringing federal resources to local prosecutions of armed and dangers felons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra Jr. prosecuted the case.