Iowa Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for the Robbery of a Fargo Inn

FARGO - U. S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on April 21, 2016, Eric Lee Webb, 31, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced before U. S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson to serve 30 years in prison.

On January 29, 2016, the defendant appeared before Chief United States District Judge Ralph R. Erickson, in Fargo, for a change of plea hearing. Pursuant to a Rule ll(c)(l)(B) plea agreement, the defendant entered a guilty plea to a three-count information that was filed January 19, 2015. Pursuant to the information, count one charged him with Interference with Commerce by Threats and Violence-Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); count two charged Use and Carry of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1); count three charged Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).

On June 4, 2015, Webb entered the Howard Johnson Inn, 301 3rd Ave. N., Fargo, ND, wielded a firearm at an employee of the Inn demanding money. Webb was wearing blue surgical gloves and had a pistol in his hand which he pointed at two employees and demanded money. The employees originally thought the gun was a fake because it was so small. Webb responded by firing the gun into a wall near them. An employee provided Webb with $300 in cash.

The Fargo Police Department was immediately called and shortly thereafter confronted Webb. Law enforcement was dispatched and pursued Webb as he fled on foot. Fargo Police Officer Wahl was driving his patrol vehicle near the northeast corner of Sahr's Sudden Service (601 4th Street North) when he observed Webb in the parking lot. Webb fired at least one round at Officer Wahl's vehicle. Two spent casings were located in the parking lot just north of Sahr's Sudden Service; indicating Webb fired two rounds at Officer Wahl. A bullet hole was located in the front driver's side wheel well of Officer Wahl's patrol vehicle. The second round was not located and is still unaccounted for.

Fargo Police Officer Niemeyer arrived at Sahr's Sudden Service parking lot and observed Webb at the north end of the parking lot. Officer Niemeyer parked and exited his vehicle crouching down near the driver's side. Webb proceeded towards Officer Niemeyer and fired one round, which struck the passenger door of the patrol vehicle. The bullet passed through the door and into the duty bag that was positioned on the front passenger seat. Officer Niemeyer moved to the trunk area of his patrol vehicle and fired two rounds at Webb from his Glock .40 caliber duty weapon. One round struck Webb and the other round struck the northwest comer of the Sahr's Sudden Service building.

Webb fell to the ground and officers took Webb into custody. Located near Webb was a Raven, Model MP-25 pistol, with one round in the chamber, and one round in the magazine. A routine search of the defendant's person following his arrest revealed an open box of Sellier & Bellot brand ammunition, containing 26 live rounds, and a cellphone in his pants pocket, as well as, blue surgical gloves and a plastic grocery bag containing $355 in his underwear. Webb was transported via ambulance to Sanford Medical Center.

Officers located Webb's vehicle, a 1991 Honda Accord, in a parking lot at 202 6th Avenue North. In a search of the defendant's vehicle, law enforcement found and seized an open box of Sellier & Bellot brand ammunition containing 13 live rounds.

Webb is a convicted felon and he was aware that he was prohibited from possessing firearms. As outlined in the information, the defendant had been convicted of the following crimes punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year:

1) Burlgary-3rd Degree in Linn County District Comi, Iowa, on June 6, 2003.

2) Robbery-2nd Degree in Linn County District Court, Iowa, on June 2, 2006.

This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and The Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

First Assistant U. S. Attorney Keith Reisenauer prosecuted the case.