TRENTON, NJ—A Brooklyn, New York, man admitted today to participating in six armed electronic store robberies, including robberies in Linden, New Jersey and Paramus, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Carl Williams, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Williams has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 14, 2013.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between June 11, 2012, and Jan. 16, 2013, Williams conspired with others to commit a series of armed electronics store robberies in New Jersey and New York. During each robbery, Williams and other conspirators would assign “look-outs” to remain outside while the rest of the group, armed with a gun, entered the store, locked the front doors, and tied-up employees and customers with zip ties before stealing the merchandise.

The charge of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other prison sentence imposed, and a maximum of life in prison. Each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Linden and Woodbridge police departments in New Jersey, as well as the New York City and Nassau County police departments and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in New York for their work in this case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.