Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty to Convenience Store Robbery

The U.S. Department of Justice reports in its press release (quotation, not an independent finding): “Gainesville, Florida – Denzel Dyshaun Flagg, 27, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution was made possible by the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, who tracked down this defendant so we could hold him accountable for his role in this violent crime. We owe it to our citizens to protect them from the predations of violent criminals and to seek maximum punishment to hold those offenders accountable and deter future crime.” Court documents reflect that on February 18, 2025, the defendant participated in the robbery of the Eastside Food Store in Gainesville, Florida. During the robbery, two other individuals entered the store wearing ski masks, and one of them pointed a gun directly at the face of the store clerk before stealing cash from the register. The defendant acted as the getaway driver. Flagg faces a maximum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor. The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alachua County Sherriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, stat”