Two men from Florida, Jay El Wilburn, 47, and Alvaughn Parker, 27, both residing in Tampa, have been charged with several federal offenses. These charges come after an incident where Wilburn, posing as a utility worker, committed an armed robbery against a local family, as announced by the Justice Department.
Wilburn and Parker face charges including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, the use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Hobbs Act is a federal statute that addresses robberies affecting interstate commerce.
The incident took place on January 20 when deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery at a Tampa apartment. According to the indictment, Wilburn was dressed as a utility worker, wearing a hard hat and a reflective vest, to gain access to the apartment. The apartment was occupied by a man, a woman, and a 13-year-old boy.
Once inside, Wilburn brandished a Taurus PT58S .380-caliber pistol and threatened the woman by pressing the gun to her abdomen. He then forced her to restrain the man and the boy by zip-tying their hands. Soon after, Parker joined them, dressed entirely in black with a face mask and large sunglasses.
The duo escaped with approximately $15,000 in cash, controlled substances, three firearms, around two ounces of marijuana, and jewelry. The stolen items were physically taken from one of the victims.
Authorities managed to connect Wilburn and Parker to the crime through various investigative strategies, including surveillance footage and license plate readers.
On February 2, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a federal search warrant at Wilburn’s home, discovering the loaded firearm used in the robbery.
Wilburn has a criminal history that includes previous felony convictions for carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence. These past offenses legally bar him from firearm possession. He has also served a federal prison sentence for using a firearm during a violent crime.