PHILADELPHIA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Nasir Butler, 29, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted today at trial of two counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence, arising from his armed robberies of the same city business twice in three weeks.
The defendant was charged by indictment in January of this year. Prior to his trial, Butler pleaded guilty to Count Five of the indictment, possession of a firearm by a felon.
As proven at trial, on September 20, 2024, and again on October 11, 2024, Butler contacted a business located on the 1200 block of Bridge Street under the pretext of making an appointment. On both dates, after arriving at the establishment, he pointed a gun at employees, demanded money, and left with cash belonging to the business.
The defendant will be sentenced on a date to be determined and faces a maximum possible term of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Izabella Babchinetskaya and Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
