Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Dyonnie Alvarez (22, Tampa), her brother, Christopher Alvarez (18, Gibsonton), and Enrique Marquez (26, Tampa) with four Hobbs Act robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence during the commission of those robberies. Dyonnie Alvarez and Marquez have also each been charged with an additional Hobbs Act robbery. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years for each robbery count, and up to 20 years for the conspiracy count. The firearm charges each carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 7 years, and up to life, in prison consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any firearm and ammunition traceable to the offenses as well as the proceeds the defendants obtained as result of their offenses.
According to the indictment, on May 5, 2022, Dyonnie Alvarez, Christopher Alvarez, and Marquez robbed two convenience stores in the Tampa area. During the robberies, they brandished a firearm. The next morning, the trio robbed two more Tampa area convenience stores in the same manner. In addition, on May 1, 2022, Dyonnie Alvarez and Marquez attempted to rob a citizen in an attempt to obtain narcotics.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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.