St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of a Cell Phone Store

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A man has pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of a St. Paul cell phone store, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, on April 5, 2024, Johnnie Ward, Jr., 33, walked into a cell phone store in St. Paul, with an accomplice who was carrying a torch lighter. 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 cell phones.

Ward pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Susan Richard Nelson to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 28, 2025.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Classen is prosecuting the case.