Florida men indicted in armed home invasion where suspect posed as utility worker, 13-year-old zip-tied: DOJ

Two Florida men have been indicted after one of them, disguised as a utility worker, robbed a local family at gunpoint and zip-tied the victims—including a 13-year-old boy—the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Jay El Wilburn, 47, and Alvaughn Parker, 27, both of Tampa, face a slew of federal charges, including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery—a federal law prohibiting robberies that affect interstate commerce—as well as robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the indictment, deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Tampa apartment on Jan. 20, where an armed robbery had just occurred.

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Wilburn allegedly posed as a utility worker, wearing a hard hat and a reflective vest, to gain entry into the apartment, which was occupied by a man, a woman, and a 13-year-old boy.

Once allowed inside, Wilburn brandished a Taurus PT58S .380-caliber pistol. He grabbed the woman by the back of her neck and pressed the gun to her stomach, federal prosecutors said.

He then forced her to zip-tie the hands of both the man and the teenage boy behind their backs. Once they were restrained, Parker entered the home wearing a face mask and large sunglasses, dressed entirely in black.

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The pair stole approximately $15,000 in cash, controlled substances, three firearms, about two ounces of marijuana, and jewelry physically taken from one of the victims before fleeing the scene.

Investigators linked the two suspects to the robbery using surveillance footage from nearby buildings, license plate readers, and other investigative methods.

On Feb. 2, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a federal search warrant at Wilburn’s residence, where they recovered the loaded firearm used in the robbery.

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Wilburn has prior felony convictions, including carjacking and the use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, legally prohibiting him from possessing firearms.

He has also previously served a federal prison sentence for using a firearm during a crime of violence.