U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jorge Serrano Espinoza, a 20-year-old resident of Clearwater, to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison. Espinoza was convicted of Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during the robbery on September 11, 2024.
The incident occurred on June 9, 2023. Evidence presented at trial revealed that Espinoza, along with James Battle and Carlos Keanu Smith, planned to rob an armored truck. They tracked the truck from Pinellas County to eastern Hillsborough County before reaching a gas station in Ellenton. Florida Department of Transportation toll records indicated their vehicle closely followed the armored truck throughout its route. Surveillance footage confirmed this pattern until the robbery took place at the gas station.
During the robbery, as the driver returned to the armored truck, Battle and Smith approached him with pistols drawn, forcing him to lie on the ground while Espinoza acted as a lookout. The group stole over $150,000 from the truck.
James Battle received a sentence of 10 years in federal prison, while Carlos Keanu Smith was sentenced to 9 years.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office conducted investigations into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth prosecuted it with forfeiture proceedings managed by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, an enhanced strategy for PSN was launched focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.