Rafael Jimenez, a 31-year-old resident of Tampa, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the robbery of a gas station and the use of a firearm during the crime. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. Jimenez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment. His sentencing is scheduled for April 23, 2026.
Court records indicate that on March 8, 2025, Jimenez entered a Tampa gas station armed with a firearm and demanded money from the register. He discharged his weapon in the direction of the clerk, hitting the ground behind them. Afterward, he took cigarettes and more than $600 from the store.
Jimenez was identified through surveillance footage that highlighted similarities between him and the suspect, including a unique tattoo. Authorities also found items in his trash—such as a ski mask, gloves, and cigarettes matching those used by the robber—that linked him to the crime. Surveillance video further showed a vehicle similar to Jimenez’s near the scene before and after the incident.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman is prosecuting the case, while Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is overseeing forfeiture proceedings.
According to officials, this prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and addressing violent crime in communities. The operation consolidates resources from both Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)."
