Three Indicted for Armed Hobbs Act Robbery and Shooting

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment today charging three local men in connection with a September 2021 shooting and attempted armed robbery of an Albemarle County man who they believe possessed marijuana.

The grand jury today charged Madison Wonne Zelee, 26, Tyrel Anthony Dowell, 22, and Tyreek Saquan Ragland, 24, all of Charlottesville, each with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, one count of committing Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of discharge of a firearm in commission of a Hobbs Act Robbery. In addition, Dowell and Zelee were each charged with an additional count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to respond to the spike in violent crimes across the Charlottesville-Albemarle County region by bringing federal charges when appropriate,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Partnering with law enforcement agencies across our community is a key component to achieving our shared goal of protecting our communities from gun violence.”

“The FBI is committed to leveraging our investigative resources to assist our law enforcement partners in addressing these violent crimes,” Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “We encourage anyone who has witnessed or is a victim of a violent crime to report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.”

According to the indictment, on September 30, 2021, Zelee, Dowell, and Ragland conspired to steal  cash and other goods against their victim’s will through the use of force and fear of injury while brandishing and discharging a firearm.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Albemarle County Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.