Evergreen Reporter

Jose Diaz-Garcia, a 24-year-old resident of York, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 217 months in prison for his involvement in multiple armed robberies and discharging a firearm during one of these crimes. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Keli M. Neary following Diaz-Garcia's guilty plea to three counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that Diaz-Garcia's offenses took place during a five-day crime spree in December 2021. The incidents involved armed robberies at the Smoke and Chill convenience store, the Family Dollar store, and Rod’s Corner Store in York County. During these robberies, Diaz-Garcia used a loaded handgun to threaten employees and steal money through force and intimidation. Notably, during the robbery at the Family Dollar on December 8, 2021, he discharged the firearm in front of patrons and employees and threatened an employee before fleeing.

In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Neary ordered Diaz-Garcia to pay $4,601.58 in restitution to the affected businesses and serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and safeguarding communities from violent crime perpetrators. The operation aligns with efforts from Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the York City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christian Haugsby prosecuted the case.