United States Attorney David Metcalf has announced that Rubiel Perez, a 30-year-old resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to an armed robbery spree in Lehigh County. The plea was entered before United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl and includes two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
The charges stem from incidents in March 2023. According to the indictment and Perez's admission, on March 28, 2023, he robbed a 7-Eleven store on Union Boulevard in Allentown at gunpoint, taking $937. The following night, he targeted another 7-Eleven on South 4th Street in Allentown where he stole $150 after threatening an employee with a handgun. Later that same night, Perez attempted another robbery at a 7-Eleven on West Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township by threatening an employee with a firearm.
Perez was indicted for these crimes in November 2023. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 10 and could face life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Allentown Police Department and the South Whitehall Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf is prosecuting the case.