Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced the guilty plea of MARIO LUIS JONES, 27, for the violent armed robbery of a Red & White taxicab in Minneapolis, Minnesota. JONES was indicted on March 6, 2018, and entered his guilty plea earlier today before Judge Joan N. Ericksen in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“Mario Jones is a dangerous criminal who committed a violent armed robbery of a taxicab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Violent crimes such as this will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Greg Brooker. “I am grateful for the work of our federal and local law enforcement partners who are dedicated to pursuing armed violent offenders and to keeping our businesses and communities safe.”

“This man’s reckless behavior put many lives at risk all the way from Minneapolis down to Lakeville,” said Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “Violent criminals have no place in our communities. We are pleased to partner with the Minneapolis and Lakeville Police Departments to make our community safer and bring this individual to justice.”

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on November 27, 2017, JONES got into a Red & White taxicab near the 2800 block of Pillsbury Avenue South in Minneapolis. JONES told the taxicab driver to take him to 5773 Bossen Terrace in Minneapolis, however, when they arrived, JONES told the driver that it was the wrong address. JONES then pulled out a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a laser scope, placed the barrel near the driver’s head, and demanded that the driver stop the car and open the trunk. JONES got out of the taxi and walked to the trunk area. Fearing that JONES was going to kill him, the driver ran off. JONES fired the firearm and then drove off in the taxicab.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, JONES was located driving southbound on Interstate 35 in the Lakeville area. When law enforcement officers approached JONES, he sped off at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. JONES eventually crashed into a swampy ditch and was later apprehended and arrested.

The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Lakeville Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

MARIO LUIS JONES, 27
Richfield, Minn.

Convicted:

• Interference with commerce by robbery, 1 count
• Using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 1 count

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600