Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ATLANTA – Joseph Orlando Hood, a previously convicted felon, has been convicted by a federal jury of several armed commercial robberies, including three Waffle House Restaurants and a United Inn and Suites Motel.

“Hood terrorized and nearly killed several people during his lengthy robbery spree,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Thanks to the courage of the many victims in this case who testified at trial despite suffering ongoing trauma, and the diligence of our federal and local law enforcement partners, this violent serial robber will be kept off the streets of our district for many years.”

“This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka of the ATF Atlanta Field Division.

“We are very thankful that the partnership between state local and federal agencies have proven to be effective in making our communities safe. In this case, it has taken a very violent felon off the streets. It is successful prosecutions of cases like this, that strengthens our collaboration between law enforcement and citizens to address crime and the fear of crime in our communities,” said Chamblee Police Chief Kerry Thomas.

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court:  Between November 12, 2016, and November 17, 2016, Hood committed commercial armed robberies at Waffle House restaurants in Chamblee, Lithonia, and Tucker, Georgia, at the United Inn and Suites in Decatur, and the Raymok Bar and Grill in Scottsdale.  All of the businesses were located in Georgia.

During one of the Waffle House robberies, Hood shot at a customer who tried to escape.  He also pistol-whipped the manager of United Inn and Suites motel during the armed robbery of that business. Hood’s armed robbery spree ended after he robbed Raymok Bar and Grill.  While Hood fired several rounds at a customer who tried to escape during the robbery, the manager of the bar shot Hood in the leg. Hood fled but was quickly located by law enforcement officers in a nearby apartment complex.

Joseph Orlando Hood, 32, of Scottdale, Georgia, will be sentenced before U.S. District Steve C. Jones on May 20, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the DeKalb Police Department, and the Chamblee Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dash A. Cooper and Joseph Plummer prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).  In keeping with the Attorney General’s mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgia’s PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov.

###