TAMPA, Fla. — A federal jury has convicted a Florida man of conspiracy to commit numerous armed robberies, home invasions, and shootings while impersonating a law enforcement officer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO) has announced.
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A federal jury has found Darius Hudson, 44, of Arcadia, guilty of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three separate Hobbs Act robberies, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Hudson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 27 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the evidence introduced during the trial, between December 2020 and April 2021, a group of individuals conspired with each other to commit armed robberies throughout Pasco, Polk, Lee, and Hillsborough counties, as well as in Georgia and Arizona.
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While committing these offenses, the conspirators, including Hudson, impersonated law enforcement officers by wearing black clothing, gloves, and masks, often with law enforcement insignia or vests with “Sheriff” affixed.
Evidence revealed they drove a black Dodge Durango equipped with lights and often handcuffed their victims. During these robberies, victims and their family members were awoken in the middle of the night at home, beaten, pistol-whipped, threatened, and, on several occasions, shot.
One other defendant pleaded guilty in January 2023, and three others pleaded guilty in March 2023.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bartow Police Department, the Lakeland Police Department, the Dade City Police Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Arcadia Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes prosecuted it.
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