Naim-Shahid Jumah Austin, 28, from Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of armed robberies at local hotels in late 2022. This was announced by United States Attorney David Metcalf. In addition to his prison sentence, United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe sentenced Austin to five years of supervised release.
The charges against Austin, brought in January 2023, included six counts of robbery under the Hobbs Act and various firearms offenses. In December, he pled guilty to these charges, admitting to acts committed between September and December 2022 during which he targeted hotels in the early morning. He used a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and his mother's car for these crimes.
The series of robberies occurred at locations including the Courtyard by Marriott in Tredyffrin Township, Holiday Inn & Suites in Drexel Hill, and several others in the area. Austin was apprehended by West Goshen Township Police soon after one of the robberies in December.
U.S. Attorney Metcalf remarked on the severity of Austin's actions, stating, "Naim Austin was on a one-man crime spree, committing six armed robberies in less than three months. This sentence keeps him off the street and holds him accountable for what he’s done."
FBI Philadelphia's Special Agent in Charge, Wayne A. Jacobs, emphasized the joint efforts in bringing Austin to justice. "Brazen violent criminals like Austin terrorize our communities," he said. "The FBI and our partners will never stop working to crush violent crime."
The investigation was led by the FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and the Pennsylvania State Police, with contributions from multiple local law enforcement agencies. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Sandra Urban.
