Yael Williams Jr., a 38-year-old Kyle resident, is facing seven federal charges in connection with a series of armed robberies targeting food and convenience stores in Austin. The Justice Department states that during June and July, Williams conducted robberies at a Subway restaurant and two 7-11 locations, using what appeared to be a .22 caliber revolver to threaten employees and seize property. According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Williams, previously convicted of a felony, now has an indictment to his name outlining his alleged crimes.
The indictment against Williams offers a stark portrayal of the fear these robberies likely instigated, suggesting that he obtained U.S. currency and other items through actual and threatened force. The charges levied include three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of discharging a firearm in relation to a violent crime, two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of firearm possession by a felon. There’s a weighty consequence that could follow if Williams is found guilty, with a federal district court judge set to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors to decide his fate.
While an indictment triggers the commencement of a legal challenge, it remains important to remind that it does not imply guilt. As reiterated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” The Austin Police Department, alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, is carrying out the ongoing investigation into these incidents…