A Federal Grand Jury Returns a 10-Count Indictment on Local Man who Robbed Six Mid-South Businesses

Memphis, TN – A local man has been indicted for six counts of Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.

On November 15, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a ten-count indictment against Brandon Albonetti, 23, for the robberies and attempted robberies of several CVS stores and one Burger King during the summer of 2018.

The robberies occurred in Memphis, between June 21, 2018 and August 14, 2018. In a majority of these robberies, Albonetti entered the respective stores armed with a pistol, taking cash and other items from the registers and safes. In two robberies, Albonetti displayed a knife, as he demanded cash. The defendant robbed the CVS located at 786 North Germantown Parkway twice and the CVS at 5055 Stage Road, three times during this time period.

On August 14, 2018, Memphis Police officers quickly responded and apprehended Albonetti as he tried to flee the scene of the CVS on Stage Road, which he had just robbed. The defendant used his vehicle to strike two patrol cars as authorities positioned their vehicles to keep the suspect from escaping.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "We must make it painfully clear that violent crimes committed with firearms have severe consequences, and this indictment does just that. For his repeated and brazen criminal conduct, this violent offender faces up to life in federal prison. We are FED UP with gun crime in Memphis."

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years imprisonment on each robbery count. If convicted of the firearms charges, the defendant faces up to life imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force; Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryce Phillips is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.