Defendant Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of South Florida Businesses

March 5, 2010 - Jeffrey S. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); James Loftus, Director, Miami–Dade Police Department; Rafael P. Hernandez, Jr., Chief, North Miami Beach Police Department; and Richard Naue, Chief, City of Coral Gables Police Department, announced that defendant Frankie Medrano, 29, formerly of West Palm Beach and Miami, has pleaded guilty to firearms charges related to his participation in 16 robberies occurring between May and July 2009.

On July 25, 2009, Medrano was arrested after he was identified as the perpetrator of a series of armed robberies in the South Florida area. Ultimately Medrano was charged by indictment with robbing 16 South Florida businesses, including eight (8) Subway sandwich shops, three (3) Quiznos sandwich shops, two (2) Radio Shack electronic stores, one (1) Payless Shoes store and one (1) Footlocker shoe store. Medrano was alleged to have used a firearm during 14 of the 16 charged robberies. Medrano was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

By the terms of his plea agreement, Medrano pled guilty to possessing a firearm during two of the charged robberies. Together, the counts carry a mandatory sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. Medrano also agreed to pay restitution to the victims in all 16 robberies identified in the indictment. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 14, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Joan A. Lenard.

This prosecution was the result of a coordinated effort between the ATF, Miami-Dade Police Department, City of North Miami Beach Police Department, City of Coral Gables Police Department, West Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Hollywood Police Department, Miramar Police Department, Hialeah Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony W. Lacosta.