Huntsville Man Charged with Multiple Robberies in North Alabama

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury today charged a Huntsville man with committing a string of armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.  

A 12-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Christopher Maxwell Jacobie Owens, 27, of Huntsville, with 6-counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and 6-counts of brandishing a firearm. 

According to the indictment, in a span of six days in November 2020, Owens committed six armed robberies at businesses in Huntsville.  Owens robbed two Family Dollar locations, Dollar General, two MetroPCS locations, and Walgreens. 

The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery that affects interstate commerce and that involves the taking of property from another person by means of actual or threatened force or violence.

If convicted of a Hobbs Act Robbery, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison.

The FBI investigated the case along with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pillsbury is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.