Two east metro men were convicted in federal court for the armed robbery of a North Minneapolis convenience store in 2018.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota announced Tuesday the convictions of Mario Spencer, 34, of St. Paul, and Ahmed Farah, 32, of Maplewood. Both were found guilty on a count of interference with commerce by robbery and a count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to prosecutors, the two entered the Penn-wood Market convenience store on Glenwood Avenue wearing masks and gloves at about 8:30 p.m. March 23, 2018. Spencer held two employees at gunpoint while Farah took money from the cash register. The two then fled the scene in a vehicle.
Responding police officers found the vehicle crashed into a garage. Officers were able to chase Farah down. Spencer was later found after a search of the crash site neighborhood on the roof a garage, prosecutors said.
The case was a part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort and was done by Minneapolis police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The conviction followed a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright.
