Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Man Indicted for Firearms and Hobbs Act Robbery
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that STEPHAN MITCHEL THOMAS, age 22, of Holden, Louisiana, was charged with federal firearms violations and Hobbs Act robberies in a seven-count indictment.
According to the indictment, THOMAS committed robberies in violation of Title 18, United States Code 1951(a) on July 11, 2016 and September 1, 2016, and brandished firearms during these robberies, in violation of Title 18, United States Code 924(c). The indictment also alleges that, on August 31, 2016, THOMAS possessed a firearm silencer, a short-barrel rifle, and a sawed-off shotgun, without registering these firearms in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861.
U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, THOMAS faces, as to each count of Hobbs Act robbery, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, five years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. As to each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, THOMAS faces a minimum sentence of seven years up to a maximum term of imprisonment of life, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, five years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment. As to each count of possessing unregistered firearms, THOMAS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, five years supervised release after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Shirin Hakimzadeh.