ALBUQUERQUE - Xavior Akina, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M., entered a guilty plea today in federal court to violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a pizza delivery person on March 7, 2016.
Akina was charged in a three-count indictment filed on May 10, 2016, with violating the Hobbs Act on March 6, 2016, by robbing a Domino’s Pizza employee at gunpoint, and on March 7, 2016, by robbing a Papa John’s Pizza employee at gunpoint, and violating the firearms laws by brandishing a firearm during those crimes of violence. According to the indictment, Akina committed the offenses in Bernalillo County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Akina pled guilty to Count 2 of the indictment charging him with violating the Hobbs Act and to Count 3 of the indictment charging him with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In entering the guilty plea, Akina admitted that on March 7, 2016, he threatened the victim with a firearm and demanded money from the victim while the victim was delivering pizza.
At sentencing, Akina faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the Hobbs Act charge, and a mandatory seven-year prison sentence for brandishing a firearm, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the Hobbs Act charge. Akina remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva Fontanez.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
