United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Amir Muhammad, age 54, was sentenced in federal court today in Omaha, Nebraska, for two counts of brandishing a firearm and two counts of robbery. Chief United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Muhammad to 28 years of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his term of imprisonment, Muhammad will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On Sept. 21, 2018, Muhammad robbed the Max I. Walker at 9211 Maple Street, Omaha, Nebraska. He entered the store, claimed to have a knife, demanded money from the clerk and threatened to cut the clerk if he wasn’t provided money. He was given money and left the store.
Muhammad robbed P.L. Jewelers in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Oct. 1, 2018, by entering the store, threatening to shoot the owner of the store, demanding money and striking him in the head with a hard object. He left the store after taking a number of pieces of jewelry. On October 5, some of the items taken were found in a residence at which Muhammad had been staying.
On Oct. 3, 2018, Muhammad robbed the Juice Stop at 11910 Standing Stone Drive, Gretna, by entering the store, brandishing a firearm to the clerk, and demanding money. After obtaining less than $300, he ran out of the store.
On October 5, 2018, Muhammad brandished a firearm when he carjacked an employee leaving Bergan Mercy Hospital. As she was walking toward her car, Muhammad approached her from behind, pushed her over the center console and got into the driver’s seat. Throughout the encounter he was pointing a gun at her. They fought over the gun and she was able force him to drop it, after which she ran from the car back to the hospital. Muhammad took her keys and her bag, leaving the car in the parking lot.
A little more than an hour later, Muhammad cashed a check from the victim’s account, made out to him, at a local bank. His photo was obtained from the bank and his identity was discovered. Throughout the day, metro area law enforcement worked together tracking down leads to Muhammad’s whereabouts. He was ultimately found at a trailer park in Council Bluffs, Iowa and arrested. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying a bag. In the bag was the carjacking victim’s wallet.
U.S. Attorney Kelly praised the bravery of the victims during their ordeals, their willingness to cooperate with prosecution, and the tenacity of law enforcement in capturing Muhammad. “We aggressively prosecute violent offenders and for the next 28 years, this violent offender will not be able to scare, threaten and intimidate members of our communities."
The FBI Great Plains Violent Crime Task Force, comprised of FBI Agents, Omaha Police Department Detectives, Nebraska State Patrol Investigators and Papillion Police Department Detectives, investigated the case and was assisted by Omaha Police robbery unit, Carter Lake Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
