Timothy Hyatt, a 36-year-old resident of Akron, Ohio, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Charles Fleming following Hyatt's guilty plea to four counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery and two counts related to firearms offenses during violent crimes.
Court documents reveal that between December 2023 and January 2024, Hyatt committed multiple robberies at various businesses. During these incidents, he threatened employees with a loaded firearm. In one case, an exchange of gunfire occurred between Hyatt and an employee who had obtained a firearm. Hyatt sustained a gunshot wound during this confrontation but managed to leave the scene. After receiving medical treatment at a local hospital for his injuries, he was taken into custody by the Akron Police Department. Following his arrest and after being read his Miranda rights, Hyatt confessed to committing four robberies.
The businesses targeted by Hyatt included Panera Bread in Cuyahoga Falls on December 19, 2023; Sav-a-Lot in Akron on December 27, 2023; Game Stop in Akron on December 29, 2023; and Taco Bell in Akron on January 1, 2024.
The investigation into these crimes was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Akron Police Department, and the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Dangelo prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.