Honduran National Indicted for Alleged Armed Robberies of Two Austin Stores

AUSTIN, Texas - A federal grand jury in Austin returned an indictment charging a Honduran national with four counts related to Hobbs Act robbery and firearm offenses.

According to court documents, Christian Lopez-Burgos, 25, allegedly committed an armed robbery of two Austin convenience stores on or about Dec. 31, 2023 and Feb. 3, 2024. During the first robbery, Lopez-Burgos allegedly brandished a firearm. During the second robbery, he allegedly fired a pistol at a victim three times and pointed it at two others.

Lopez-Burgos is charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each Hobbs Act violation, a minimum of seven years in prison for the brandishing charge, and a minimum of 10 years in prison for the discharge offense years in prison. Federal law provides that any punishment imposed as to the firearms charges is to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The FBI, Austin Police Department, San Marcos Police Department and Houston Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Cohen is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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