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Press Release

Philadelphia Armed Robber Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Michael Hughes, 32, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to his victims by United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe, for two armed robberies in which two victims were shot in the leg in August 2016. 

In January 2020, a jury convicted Hughes of all charges against him: two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (known as Hobbs Act robbery), and two counts of using, carrying, bradishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charges stem from Hughes’s participation in an armed robbery and shooting, along with co-defendant Nashadeem Henderson, of a marijuana dealer in the area of 2600 Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia; and an armed robbery and shooting of a pizza deliveryman employed by Mimmo’s Pizza in the area of 3000 North Taney Street in Philadelphia. Henderson pleaded guilty prior to the trial and was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the crimes.

“Michael Hughes acted with complete disregard for the lives of his victims, shooting indiscriminately in an effort to score some quick cash,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Philadelphia is in the midst of a public safety crisis, with alarming rates of homicides and shootings. Our Office is doing everything it can to investigate and aggressively prosecute violent crimes like those committed by this defendant.”

“Michael Hughes took part in two violent armed robberies in one week, which saw two victims shot and seriously wounded,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Anyone who thinks they can make their money this way, anyone who thinks they can carry out this kind of crime with impunity, should take a good hard look at the 30-year sentence just handed down to Mr. Hughes. The FBI and our partners are committed to combating the violence scarring so many lives in Philadelphia.”   

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and Roberta Benjamin.

Contact

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250
Philadelphia, PA 19106

JENNIFER CRANDALL
Media Contact
215-861-8300

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Updated March 5, 2021

Topic
Violent Crime