Overnight, Philadelphia police were called out to investigate three armed robberies at 7-Eleven convenience stores across the city, including one in the 6600 block of Rising Sun Avenue in the Lawndale section.
Police say the two men entered the store carrying weapons and wearing masks. They assaulted one of the clerks before making off with some cash fleeing in a black SUV.
Earlier, the 7-Eleven along the 6700 block of North 5th Street and the 7-Eleven along the 100 block of East Champlost Street were also robbed.
Police say they found the vehicle used in the robberies at Summerdale and Cheltenham avenues and were checking it for fingerprints.
In the past, such armed robberies were prosecuted under state law. Now, a brand new FBI task force will investigate and go after repeat violent offenders who commit armed robberies and the sentences will be much more severe.
They have federal law on their side: The Hobbs Act. Since 1946, the Hobbs Act has been used to prosecute organized crime and racketeering. Now, this brand new FBI task force will use the Hobbs Act to go after repeat violent offenders committing armed robberies in Philadelphia.
Bilial Shabazz and Christopher Young were prosecuted under the Hobbs Act. They were sentenced to 30 years and 20 years respectively for robbing a Wal-Mart on the Roosevelt Boulevard. Angel Torres was sentenced to 262 years in federal prison for a string of armed robberies.
