A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 80 months in prison for his involvement in an armed robbery at a cell phone store, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. Following his prison term, he will undergo three years of supervised release and must 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 was carrying a torch lighter. The accomplice threatened the store clerk while Ward demanded access to the safe in the back storage room, instructing the victim to "hurry up or else." The duo fled with several cell phones.
Ward received his sentence from Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court for one count of Hobbs Act Robbery.
The case resulted from an investigation by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Classen prosecuted the case.