South Bend Man Sentenced To 57 Months In Prison

For Hobbs Act Robbery and Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery

SOUTH BEND – Jose Salazar, age 21, of South Bend, Indiana was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Damon Leichty upon his guilty pleas to Hobbs Act Robbery and Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

Mr. Salazar was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.

According to documents filed in this case, Mr. Salazar walked from his apartment to a gas station, displayed what appeared to be a handgun, racked the slide, and demanded money.  The next morning he did virtually the same thing at another gas station.  Both times he obtained cash.  After the second robbery he attempted a third robbery at a tobacco store, but the employees refused to give him cash.  Mr. Salazar was caught a short time after the third attempt and the weapon recovered turned out to be a BB gun that resembled a real firearm.  He was charged by the State of Indiana, posted bond, and while on bond Mr. Salazar attempted to rob one of the gas stations by displaying a knife. Clerks at the gas station refused to give him money. Law enforcement arrested him and he confessed to his crimes.   

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Gabrielse prosecuted the case.