PHILADELPHIA - Cartel Wright, 39, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged today by indictment with 11 counts of Hobbs Act robbery that largely targeted pharmacies in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Wright allegedly robbed the same Rite Aid Pharmacy on three different occasions.
According to the indictment, between March 25, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2015, in addition to Rite Aid Pharmacies, Wright robbed a CVS, a Walgreens, a Family Dollar store, and two different McDonald’s restaurants, twice committing two robberies on the same day. The indictment alleges that Wright robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy at 5040 City Avenue on: March 25, 2014, Aug. 30, 2014, Dec. 27, 2014, and Dec. 18, 2014, when he also robbed another Rite Aid Pharmacy at 5212 Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia. It is further alleged that Wright committed the following robberies:
Dec. 28, 2014, CVS Pharmacy, located at 7520 City Avenue, Philadelphia
Jan. 1, 2015, Family Dollar, located at 5814 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia
Jan. 11, 2015, Rite Aid, located at 5440 Lansdowne Avenue, Philadelphia
Jan. 11, 2015, McDonald’s, located at 7500 City Avenue, Philadelphia
Jan. 12, 2015, McDonald’s, located at 101 South 52nd Street, Philadelphia
Jan. 19, 2015, Walgreens, located at 53 Chester Pike, Darby Borough
In each robbery, Wright allegedly threatened the victims before stealing money from the establishment.
If convicted of all charges, Wright faces a possible advisory sentencing guideline range of 151 to 262 months in prison and a $1,100 special assessment, with a maximum statutory sentence of 220 years in prison, a $2.75 million fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Darby Borough Police Department and the United States Marshal Service Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force (VCFTF). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jose Arteaga.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
