United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida

10/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/04/2024 15:19

Ocala Man Indicted For Armed Robbery

Ocala, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a two-count indictment charging Johnisaac Felix (22, Ocala) with interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted of the robbery offense, Felix faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The firearm offense carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years, up to life, in federal prison which must be served consecutively to any prison term imposed for the robbery.

According to the indictment, on June 16, 2024, Felix robbed an employee of gas station in Ocala using actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury to the employee. During that robbery, Felix also brandished a firearm.

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 Ocala Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.