Defendant Charged for Armed Robbery of South Florida Businesses

Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Robert Parker, Director, Miami–Dade Police Department, Rafael P. Hernandez, Jr., Chief, North Miami Beach Police Department, and Richard Naue, Chief, City of Coral Gables Police Department, announced that defendant Frankie Medrano, 29, formerly of West palm Beach and Miami, was charged and arrested in connection with the attempted armed robbery of two local businesses.

Specifically, Medrano was charged with the attempted robbery of a Coral Gables Subway sandwich store on May 30, 2009, and the armed robbery of a Southwest Miami Radio Shack on July 17, 2009. In both instances, Medrano is alleged to have entered the store, confronted a store clerk with a firearm, and demanded money. He was charged with two counts of the federal robbery statute, the Hobbs Act (18 U.S.C. § 1951(a)), and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)). Each robbery count carries a maximum penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment and each gun count carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

At the bond hearing held on July 31, 2009, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ted E. Bandstra detained the defendant pending trial, finding that he was a danger to the community and a risk of flight. According to the facts presented during the bond hearing, victims have identified Medrano as the perpetrator of 15 armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery in the South Florida area since May 21, 2009. On July 25, 2009, law enforcement arrested the defendant and recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and an air pistol from the car he used. In addition, proceeds from another armed robbery were also recovered from the apartment where Medrano had stayed the night before.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman stated, “The extraordinary cooperation by the multiple law enforcement agencies involved in this matter resulted in the successful identification and arrest of a suspected serial robber. Thanks to the hard work of these men and women, an armed criminal is off the streets.”

“Citizens have a right to live in a safe community,” said Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Miami Field Division. “ATF, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to combat armed violence in South Florida.”

Director Robert Parker of the Miami-Dade Police Department stated, “The apprehension of this violent offender is attributable to the strong working relationship amongst law enforcement agencies, and their unified commitment to public safety.”

This prosecution was the result of a coordinated effort between the ATF, Miami-Dade Police Department, City of North Miami Beach Police Department, City of Coral Gables Police Department, West Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Hollywood Police Department, Miramar Police Department, Hialeah Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony W. Lacosta and Kelly Karase.

A complaint is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.