Andrew M. Luger, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota
A man from St. Paul has been sentenced to 80 months in prison for the armed robbery of a local cell phone store. This was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release and an order to pay $4,900 in restitution.
Court documents reveal that on April 5, 2024, Johnnie Ward, Jr., aged 31, entered a cell phone store in St. Paul with an accomplice who carried a torch lighter. While the accomplice threatened the store clerk with the weapon, Ward demanded access to the safe located in the back storage room, instructing his victim to “hurry up or else.” Both individuals fled with several cell phones.
Ward's sentencing took place yesterday before Judge Susan Richard Nelson at the U.S. District Court on one count of Hobbs Act Robbery.
The investigation leading to this conviction was conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Classen handled the prosecution of this case.
