A St. Paul man with a lengthy criminal history and multiple felony convictions has pleaded guilty in federal court to the armed robbery of a St. Paul cellphone store, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger on Friday.
Court documents say that on April 5, 2024, Johnnie Ward, Jr., 30, walked into a cellphone store in St. Paul, with an accomplice who was carrying a torch lighter, which the store clerk originally thought was a gun. While the accomplice pointed the weapon at the store clerk, Ward demanded access to the safe in the back storage room, telling his victim to “hurry up or else.” Ward and his accomplice ultimately fled the store with several cellphones.
The robbery was similar to another St. Paul phone store robbery that occurred about two weeks prior, in which Ward had been identified as the robber in that incident.
Ward was arrested the following day after the April robbery after a woman who had a domestic abuse no contact order (DANCO) against Ward called the police. Ward fled into her house after being told he was under arrest.
A warrant was eventually executed on the residence, where law enforcement located phones that were identified as taken in the April 5 robbery. Ten of the phones in their boxes were found in a heat vent, another seven phones were found in their boxes under the bed. Clothing Ward had worn in the March robbery was also located at the residence.
Ward’s prior felony convictions include criminal damage to property, two for threats of violence, and a DANCO violation.
Court documents state that Ward committed the April robbery while pending trial in three separate cases on charges of first-degree burglary, attempted kidnapping, motor vehicle theft, threats of violence, attempted robbery, and violation of a DANCO, all in Ramsey County.
Other court records show Ward has another active case on a charge of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct for exposing himself in front of a 13-year-old girl. Ward also resisted arrest and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his arrest in that case on March 13, 2024, charges say.
Ward pleaded guilty in the April robbery on Thursday in U.S. District Court before Judge Susan Richard Nelson to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 28, 2025.
The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
