Federal Charges and 20 Year Sentence Possible for Robbing McDonald’s

A law created to fight organized crime and racketeering is now being used to prosecute people for robbery in the federal courts. So, while robbing a McDonald’s might not pay off big financially, your offense could pay off in a horrible way if you are confronted with what’s known as the Hobbs Act.

Most robbery cases are handled by the state courts but incidents of federal prosecutors going after repeat-offenders under the Hobbs Act are rising. “It’s a tool for us to protect the community,” says special agent in charge Bernard J. Zapor of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. He claims there is a deterrent effect as people are leery of spending many years within the federal penal system.

The Hobbs Act applies when an act “prohibits the obstruction or delay of commerce” and since most robberies do interfere with commerce, they can be prosecuted under the law. One conviction under the Hobbs Act carries up to 20 years in prison.

According to the Star Tribune, one of the first cases of robbery to be prosecuted under the Hobbs Act was of a ringleader of a gang responsible to robbing 18 bars in the Twin Cities. He received 20 life sentences for nine such charges and others as well.

Convictions under the Hobbs Act range from McDonald’s, liquor stores, convenience station, and gas station robberies to carjacking a taxi. While 20 years seems like a long time for a robbery conviction, U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones says “Some people you just can’t reach unless you use the heavy hammer of federal prosecution.”

Though cases being brought to federal court under the Hobbs act have grown, they are still rare. Typically, if you are charged with robbery, it will be in the state courts.

Robbery is a form of theft but is considered a crime against a person because it requires a threat or act of violence. Because of this, it is penalized more severely than a typical theft charge. Theft offenses are penalized according to how much you are accused of taking or the value of the theft. Obviously, the greater the theft is, the greater the charge and potential penalty are.

Whether you are accused of a simple theft or a serious armed robbery, you need someone on your side representing your best interests. These charges all carry the potential for jail time and other serious consequences. Contact our offices today to see how we can help.