GAINESVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL ROBBERY CHARGE AFTER ARMED CONVENIENCE STORE HOLDUP

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — A 27-year-old Gainesville man has pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a February 2025 convenience store robbery in which an armed accomplice pointed a firearm directly at an employee’s face while stealing cash from the register. The defendant served as the getaway driver during the robbery and now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Denzel Dyshaun Flagg, of Gainesville, pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, according to an October 9, 2026, announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. United States Attorney John P. Heekin confirmed the guilty plea following a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Court documents establish that the robbery occurred on February 18, 2025, at the Eastside Food Store in Gainesville. Two individuals entered the business wearing ski masks, concealing their identities as they approached the store’s employee. During the confrontation, one of the robbers pointed a gun directly at the clerk’s face before taking money from the cash register.

Flagg did not enter the store during the robbery. Instead, he acted as the getaway driver, providing transportation for the individuals who carried out the armed confrontation. His participation formed part of the criminal offense to which he has now pleaded guilty.

The incident exposed the employee to an immediate threat of serious bodily harm. A firearm directed at a person’s face during a robbery creates a credible threat of deadly force, regardless of whether the weapon is discharged. The use of ski masks also reflected the robbers’ efforts to conceal their identities during the offense.

The case was prosecuted federally under the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951, which prohibits robbery and extortion that obstruct, delay, or affect interstate or foreign commerce. The statute permits federal prosecution of qualifying robberies involving commercial establishments when the required connection to commerce is established.

A Hobbs Act robbery conviction does not require every participant to personally enter the business, possess a weapon, or physically remove property. A defendant who knowingly and intentionally participates in carrying out the offense may face criminal responsibility based on their conduct and the applicable legal requirements.

In Flagg’s case, the guilty plea establishes his criminal responsibility for the federal robbery offense. The government’s account identifies his role as providing the getaway transportation rather than personally threatening the store employee with the firearm.

United States Attorney John P. Heekin credited the cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies for identifying and apprehending Flagg. Heekin emphasized the Justice Department’s responsibility to pursue accountability for violent offenses and seek punishment intended to deter further criminal activity.

Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain are prosecuting the case.

The prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide Department of Justice initiative coordinating federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and public safety partners to address violent crime.

Project Safe Neighborhoods operates through the United States Attorney’s Offices across the nation’s 94 federal judicial districts. Its approach allows participating jurisdictions to concentrate enforcement resources on violent offenses and recurring public safety concerns within their communities.

The initiative emphasizes cooperation among law enforcement agencies, timely federal responses to serious criminal activity, and prosecution of offenses supported by sufficient evidence. It also operates as a component of Operation Take Back America, the Justice Department’s broader nationwide enforcement initiative.

Flagg faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison under the Hobbs Act. That figure represents the statutory maximum rather than a predetermined sentence.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 3, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

At sentencing, the court will determine the appropriate punishment under applicable federal statutes, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and the circumstances of the offense. The sentence ultimately imposed may be below the statutory maximum.

Flagg’s guilty plea resolves the question of his guilt on the federal robbery charge, while the determination of his punishment remains before the court. The Justice Department’s October 9 announcement does not identify the two individuals who entered the convenience store or provide their respective judicial outcomes.

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