Memphis Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Business Robberies

Memphis, TN – A local man was sentenced to 2o years in federal prison for Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

On November 15, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a ten-count indictment against Brandon Albonetti, 24, for the robberies and attempted robberies of five CVS stores and one Burger King during the summer of 2018.

According to information presented in court, the robberies occurred in Memphis, between June 21, 2018 and August 14, 2018. In several of these robberies, Albonetti entered the respective stores armed with a pistol, taking cash and other items from the registers and safes. In two robberies, Albonetti displayed a knife as he demanded cash. The defendant robbed the CVS located at 786 North Germantown Parkway twice and the CVS at 5055 Stage Road three times during this time period.

On August 14, 2018, Memphis Police officers quickly responded and apprehended Albonetti as he tried to flee the scene of the CVS on Stage Road, which he had just robbed. The defendant used his vehicle to strike two patrol cars as authorities positioned their vehicles to keep the suspect from escaping.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Business owners have a fundamental right to be safe from armed robbers who terrorize our communities with their lawlessness. The senselessness of gun violence has a long-lasting effect on victims of armed robbery, and we are pleased to achieve justice for the victims in this case. This sentence sends a clear message that there will always be a reckoning, a real and significant consequence, for the commission of violent crimes."

On July 22, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Albonetti to 240 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. The defendant previously pled guilty on February 15, 2019.

The FBI Safe Streets Task Force; Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office investigated this case.

This case was prosecuted by the Western Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on behalf of the government.