Twin Cities Man Pleads Guilty to a Robbery Spree of Gas Stations Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota Dateline: Minneapolis, Minnesota Date: 29 May 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime, Fuel Stations

MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities man has pleaded guilty to the robberies of five gas stations throughout the Twin Cities, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. 

According to court documents, between June 26, 2023, and July 11, 2023, Mohamed Zaki Mohamed Elsayed, 28, participated in the robbery of five gas stations across the Twin Cities, including in Mounds View, Roseville, New Brighton, Fridley, and Eagan. On June 26, 2023, Elsayed aided and abetted the robbery of a gas station in Mounds View. Elsayed’s accomplice entered the gas station, approached the cashier, flashed what appeared to be a semiautomatic pistol, and demanded money from the cashier. The accomplice stole $354 from the business and fled the gas station to a vehicle where Elsayed was waiting.

According to court documents, over the following two weeks, Elsayed robbed four more gas stations. In each incident, Elsayed entered the business wearing a mask, he flashed a real-looking semiautomatic pistol at the cashier and demanded the business’s money. On July 13, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Elsayed’s residence and recovered a Glock replica airsoft handgun that Elsayed admitted to using in each of the gas station robberies.

Elsayed pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge David S. Doty to five counts of Hobbs Act robbery. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Mounds View Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the New Brighton Police Department, the Fridley Police Department, the Eagan Police Department, and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.

Updated May 29, 2024