TAMPA, Fla. – Phillip Johnson, 21, of Cocoa, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney.
The charges stem from a violent robbery that occurred at the Dreams Club near Ybor City in the early morning hours of February 1, 2025. According to the complaint, Johnson and two other individuals traveled from Brevard County to Tampa to commit the robbery.
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Upon arriving at the Dreams Club, the three individuals, dressed in all black clothing and ski masks and armed with rifles and handguns, entered the establishment. They proceeded to demand money from a victim, and Johnson allegedly shot the victim in the face.
If convicted on all counts, Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a formal accusation, and Johnson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department, and the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes will prosecute the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
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