PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Shaquan Johnson, 23, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,000,000 in restitution by United States District Court Judge R. Barclay Surrick for his participation in a home invasion robbery during which the defendant and his accomplices victimized the homeowners’ teenage daughter and stole approximately $1 million in currency and jewelry, and for smuggling contraband into federal prison while he was detained for the robbery.
In March 2022, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the robbery incident in August 2018. According to court documents, Johnson and three co-defendants victimized the 17-year-old girl in her home while stealing the cash and valuables owned by her parents. Specifically, while she lay sleeping around midnight, the men entered her bedroom, pulled her from her bed, and struck her several times. They then held her at gunpoint and robbed her family of their life savings—the proceeds of their restaurant business a block-and-a-half away on Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia.
Further, while detained for the robbery charge in the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, the defendant was charged with using an infant to illegally bring narcotics and a cell phone into the prison. In March 2022, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining contraband in prison.
“Mr. Johnson and his accomplices not only victimized a family by violating the sanctity of their home and stealing the life savings for which they worked very hard, they also physically assaulted their daughter while they thought she was safely at home in her bed,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “I imagine it will take many years for this family to feel whole and secure again. Spending more than a decade in prison will give the defendant some time to reflect on the damage his crimes caused, and serve as a warning to others who might be considering engaging in similar behavior.”
“Thanks to the diligent work of the investigators and prosecutors assigned to this case, the victims finally have justice for this horrific crime,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “ATF works tirelessly with the Philadelphia Police Department and United States Attorney’s Office to keep the public safe from this type of violence. Today, the community is safer knowing this violent individual will be behind bars for a long time.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Carissimi and Sarah Damiani.
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