Florida man sentenced for spree of convenience store robberies

FLORIDA – A Tampa man has been sentenced to prison for a series of convenience store robberies.

Enrique Marquez, 26, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven to 17 years and 11 months in federal prison for four Hobbs Act robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robberies, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Marquez pleaded guilty on December 5, 2022.

According to court documents, on May 5, 2022, Marquez and his co-defendants robbed two convenience stores in the Tampa area. During the robberies, Marquez is said to have brandished a firearm. The next morning, Marquez and his co-defendants robbed two more Tampa area convenience stores in the same manner.

In addition, on May 1, 2022, Marquez shot two individuals when he and one of his co-defendants attempted to rob an individual in an effort to obtain narcotics, prosecutors said.

Marquez’s co-defendants, Christopher Alvarez, and Dyonnie Alvarez, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in this case. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for April 18, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman prosecuted it. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky handled the forfeiture.