Eric Matthew Reddick Pleads Guilty to Federal Armed Robbery and Firearms Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Eric Matthew Reddick, 22, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a two-count indictment charging him with violating the Hobbs Act and federal firearms laws.  The charges against Reddick arise out of the armed robbery of a convenience store on Oct. 6, 2017, during which Reddick shot and injured two individuals.  Reddick entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement. 

Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney said that Reddick is being prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

The FBI arrested Reddick on Oct. 12, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a business engaged in interstate commerce and with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence on Oct. 6, 2017, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 6, 2017, Reddick entered an Albuquerque-area convenience store and placed a pack of gum and a dollar bill on the counter.  When the store clerk opened the cash drawer, Reddick pointed a firearm at the store clerk, and demanded and obtained cash from the store clerk.  As he left the convenience store, Reddick fired several rounds of ammunition at the store clerk and a witness who was taking photographs of him with a cellular telephone, hitting and injuring both of them.

Later that day, officers of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) arrested Reddick, who was in the vehicle in which he used to flee from the convenience store, on related state charges, which have been dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.  In the vehicle, the officers observed a firearm during an inventory search. 

Reddick was subsequently indicted on Oct. 24, 2017, and charged with violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a business engaged in interstate commerce and brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on Oct. 6, 2017, in Bernalillo County. 

At sentencing, Reddick faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act charge.  Reddick also faces a statutory mandatory minimum of ten years of imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the other charge. 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and APD.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.