TAMPA, Florida — A Tampa man has been charged with Hobbs Act robbery after allegedly holding up a gas station at gunpoint, according to Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney. Rafael Jimenez, 30, faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
On March 8, 2025, Jimenez reportedly entered a Tampa gas station, brandished a firearm, and demanded money from the register. He fired a shot that struck the ground behind the clerk before fleeing with over $600 and cigarettes, stated the complaint. Surveillance footage from days prior to the robbery showed physical similarities between Jimenez and the suspect, including a distinctive tattoo.
Evidence found in Jimenez’s trash, such as a ski mask, gloves, and cigarettes matching those used by the robber, further linked him to the crime. Nearby surveillance video captured a vehicle resembling Jimenez’s near the scene before and after the robbery, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office…