Orlando Area Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Gas Station Robbery
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William Jung has sentenced Deshawn Martin (26, Orlando) to 20 years in federal prison for Hobbs Act robbery. Martin had pleaded guilty in February 2023. As part of his plea agreement, Martin acknowledged his guilt in four additional Hobbs Act robberies of businesses located in the Orlando area.
According to court documents, on October 15, 2021, Martin and his co-defendant, Shinel Waldrop (27, Orlando), robbed a gas station in Plant City. Martin entered the store and pointed a weapon at two individuals, taking money from the cash register and from one of the victims. Martin then exited the store and fled in a vehicle driven by Waldrop.
Waldrop previously pleaded guilty for her role in this case. In March 2023, she was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Plant City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
