Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery with Firearm

Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, August 20th in federal court to the attempted robbery of a dollar store in Jackson.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 2, 2022, Torrance Stewart, 31, entered a local business with the intent to rob the store with a firearm. Stewart brandished a pistol and threatened the store clerk into retrieving money from the cash register. When the register malfunctioned, Stewart fled on foot. Jackson Police Department (JPD) officers responded and apprehended Stewart in a nearby neighborhood.

Torrance Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.

The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive is investigating the case with assistance from the Jackson Police Department.

This case was investigated as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).