A federal judge has sentenced Roberto Juan Morales, a 49-year-old Mexican national, to 132 months in prison for discharging a firearm during a business robbery in Memphis, Tennessee. The sentencing was announced by D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
Court documents state that in March 2025, Morales robbed the Supermercado Guatemala on Winchester Road. During the robbery, he threatened an employee with an AR-style rifle and fired a shot into the floor near the clerk when she hesitated to open the cash register. The event was captured on store surveillance cameras.
Investigators used license plate readers to locate a vehicle connected to Morales and identified his residence through this information. They also found clothing matching what was seen in surveillance footage inside his vehicle. Cell phone records placed Morales at the scene of the robbery. Authorities determined that Morales had entered the U.S. illegally and had previously been deported to Mexico at least four times.
Morales pleaded guilty in September 2025 to charges including business robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a robbery, and being an illegal alien in possession of ammunition. On January 22, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker handed down his sentence: over eleven years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant stated: "Criminal aliens not only threaten the sovereignty of our nation, but also threaten the safety of our communities. This case demonstrates our commitment to immigration enforcement and our focus on those violent and dangerous criminal aliens who continue to violate our laws after illegal entry.”
Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office added: "This sentence should send a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners make it a priority to bring to justice those who resort to robbery for ill-gotten gain... We are stronger when we work together to combat violent crime and will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships."
The investigation involved both the FBI and Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force as part of ongoing efforts against violent crime in Memphis and surrounding areas.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite prosecuted this case.
