Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Two Fast-Food Restaurants and Brandishing a Firearm During the Robberies

ALBUQUERQUE – Sheldon Harris, 28, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to violating the Hobbs Act by robbing two Albuquerque-area fast food restaurants and to brandishing a firearm during the robberies.

Harris was arrested on April 20, 2016, on a ten-count indictment charging him with: robbing Albuquerque-area Subway restaurants on Aug. 22, 2015, Sept. 6, 2015, Sept. 8, 2016, Sept. 26, 2015, and Oct. 5, 2015; robbing Albuquerque-area Blake’s Lotaburger restaurants on Oct. 1, 2015, Oct. 5, 2015, Oct. 11, 2015, and Oct. 18, 2015; and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence from Aug. 22, 2015 through Oct. 18, 2015.  According to the indictment, Harris committed the crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M. 

During today’s proceedings, Harris pled guilty to Counts 8 and 9 of the indictment, each charging him with violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a business engaged in interstate commerce.  He also pled guilty to Count 10, charging him with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  In entering the guilty plea, Harris admitted that on Oct. 11, 2015 and Oct. 18, 2015, he robbed Blake’s Lotaburger restaurants at gunpoint.  Harris further admitted that when he robbed the Blake’s Lotaburger restaurants as well as several other restaurants in the Albuquerque-area, he used a firearm.

At sentencing, Harris faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act robbery charge.  He also faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 84 months in prison for brandishing a firearm that must be served consecutive to the sentence imposed on the robbery charge.  Harris remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.