Pittsburgh Felon Facing Additional Charges in Series of Armed Robberies at Gas Station Convenience Stores and Retail Stores

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
9 April 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURGH, Pa – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal robbery laws, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The 16-count Superseding Indictment named George Wilson, III, 37, as the sole defendant. Wilson was first named in an 11-count indictment returned on June 2, 2015. The additional charges allege Wilson used a firearm in the commission of all of the robberies.

According to the Superseding Indictment, Wilson committed a series of armed robberies of businesses throughout the Pittsburgh area from November 2014 through December 2014. During that time, Wilson committed armed robberies of three retain chain stores called "The Exchange" (which sell new and used audio and visual media) and during one of these robberies, Wilson discharged a firearm. Wilson also committed armed robberies of two "Sunoco" and one "Exxon" convenience stores. Due to a prior conviction for a felony offense, Wilson is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 35 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $250,000.00 at each count, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Troy Rivetti and Heidi M. Grogan are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Monroeville Police Department, the Ross Township Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department and the Wilkins Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case.

A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts

on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.