ALEXANDRIA, VA — Federal prosecutors have indicted a man on charges accusing him of a robbery spree at convenience stores and restaurants in Arlington, Centreville and Herndon after related felony cases were dropped.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned a seven-count indictment Thursday, charging Carlos Franklin Lopez Sparks of Centreville with interference with commerce by robbery, commonly known as Hobbs Act robbery, for robberies and attempted robberies that prosecutors said occurred between Feb. 24 and March 1. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of property connected to the alleged crimes.
The federal case follows a series of state prosecutions in Arlington and Fairfax counties that were dismissed through nolle prosequi orders in July. Virginia court records show the Commonwealth dropped the pending robbery, firearm and mask-related felony charges without prejudice after the federal prosecution moved forward.
According to the indictment, Sparks is accused of committing or attempting seven robberies affecting interstate commerce.
Federal prosecutors allege the incidents included:
Each count alleges the businesses bought and sold goods that traveled in interstate commerce, bringing the case under federal jurisdiction.
Investigators allege Sparks either displayed or possessed a handgun during several of the robberies and obtained cash from store employees before fleeing. The indictment contains allegations only, and Sparks is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
An FBI affidavit filed before the indictment describes a multiagency investigation that linked Sparks to the robberies through surveillance footage, cellphone records, search warrants and evidence recovered after his arrest.
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According to the affidavit, investigators from the FBI, Arlington County Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department and other agencies reviewed surveillance video from each robbery and identified similarities in the suspect's clothing, mannerisms and the handgun displayed during several of the incidents. Investigators also tracked a cellphone they believed traveled with the suspect before and after the robberies and later executed search warrants for electronic devices associated with Sparks.
The affidavit states investigators recovered videos from Sparks' cellphone that they allege depicted him inside several of the businesses targeted during the robbery spree. Agents also described finding clothing and other items that they believe matched those worn by the suspect in surveillance footage.
Investigators further alleged that cellphone location data, business surveillance footage and witness accounts consistently placed the same suspect at or near each robbery location during the relevant time period.
The affidavit served as the basis for a federal criminal complaint before the grand jury later returned the indictment.
Before the federal indictment, Sparks faced numerous felony charges in Arlington and Fairfax General District courts stemming from the same series of robberies.
Court records show prosecutors filed robbery, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and wearing a mask in certain public places charges arising from robberies on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 in Arlington. Those cases remained pending through preliminary hearings and motions before all were resolved by nolle prosequi on July 6.
Separate Fairfax County charges connected to the Feb. 26 Sunoco robbery—including robbery and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony—were filed June 29. Those charges also were nolle prosequied on July 8.
A nolle prosequi is a formal decision by prosecutors not to proceed with a charge. In Virginia, unless the dismissal is entered with prejudice, prosecutors may refile the charge in the future. The court records indicate the dismissals in Sparks' state cases were entered without prejudice.
Federal prosecutors instead proceeded under the Hobbs Act, alleging the robberies affected interstate commerce because the targeted businesses purchased and sold goods that traveled across state lines. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any proceeds from the robberies, along with firearms and ammunition allegedly used during the offenses.
The federal indictment replaces a patchwork of separate state prosecutions with one case alleging Sparks committed a string of robberies and attempted robberies across Northern Virginia over a six-day period.
If convicted, Sparks would be sentenced in U.S. District Court. The indictment itself is not evidence of guilt, and Sparks is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to the indictment, federal prosecutors allege Sparks robbed or attempted to rob businesses in Arlington, Centreville and Herndon between Feb. 24 and March 1 while affecting interstate commerce. The indictment seeks forfeiture of any property constituting or derived from proceeds of the alleged robberies, as well as any firearms and ammunition allegedly used in the offenses.
The FBI affidavit filed in support of the federal complaint describes an investigation involving the FBI and local police agencies that relied on surveillance video, witness statements, cellphone location evidence, search warrants and evidence recovered after Sparks' arrest. Agents allege those investigative steps tied Sparks to each robbery charged in the federal case.
The state court records do not explain why prosecutors entered nolle prosequi orders in each case. Such dismissals are common when related federal prosecutions encompass the same underlying conduct. The records indicate the dismissals were entered without prejudice.
Sparks remains in federal custody as the prosecution continues in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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