Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Deryl Loar, Indian River County Sheriff, and Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, announce that Glenn Thomas Carvajal, 34, of Vero Beach, has been charged in an indictment for two armed robberies of Treasure Coast GameStop stores. Carvajal was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch Jr. in Ft. Pierce and is being detained, pending trial, as a risk of flight and danger to the community.
Carvajal was charged with two counts of interfering with commerce by threats or violence (robbery), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and two counts of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). If convicted of interfering with commerce by threats or violence (robbery), the defendant faces a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. If convicted of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, the defendant faces a consecutive seven year term in prison. If convicted of the second count of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, the defendant faces another consecutive 25 year term in prison.
According to documents filed in the case, Carvajal, a former GameStop manager, robbed a total of three GameStop stores, in less than two weeks. This robbery spree, which spanned three Florida counties, began on October 8, 2013, at the GameStop store located in Brevard County. On Oct. 10, 2013, Carvajal robbed the Game Stop store located in Indian River County. Carvajal’s spree ended after the Oct. 17, 2013 armed robbery of the GameStop store located in Palm Beach County. During each of the robberies, Carvajal wore a baseball cap and sunglasses, and handed the store clerks a note, as he brandished a handgun in his waistband. Carvajal would instruct the employees to set the store safe timer, and used a number of GameStop terms, used primarily by GameStop employees.
This case is a result of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is a Department of Justice nationwide initiative that combines traditional law enforcement activities with community-based support and intervention programs. The two primary goals of the PSN initiative are to reduce and prevent violent crimes and to help past offenders adjust and re-enter the community.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office and the Melbourne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.
An indictment is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
