Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marques Howard (31, Tampa) with Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit that robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Howard faces up a maximum penalty of 20 years for the robbery offense, up to 20 years for the conspiracy offense, and up to 10 years for the possession of the firearm offense. The discharging of the firearm charge carries a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The indictment also notifies the Howard that the United States intends to forfeit any firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, on April 20, 2022, Howard robbed an individual at his residence in the Tampa area. During the robbery, Howard, a convicted felon, discharged his firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Howard is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.