Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Z Mart Armed Robbery
Laquinton Harris faces sentencing in October after pleading guilty to federal robbery and firearm charges stemming from a January 2026 robbery.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 8:52 a.m. ET
According to official records released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, 36-year-old Laquinton Harris of Tallahassee, Florida, guilty on August 10, 2026, to Hobbs Act Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The guilty plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Official records detail that a masked gunman robbed the Z Mart convenience store at 4015 Fred George Road on January 30, 2026, discharging a firearm into the floor. Leon County Sheriff's Office deputies found an apparent bullet strike on wooden flooring and a spent .22 caliber shell casing. On April 2, 2026, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a federal search warrant at Harris's residence, recovering a .22 caliber rifle that ballistics matched to the casing, as well as distinctive ripped pants and gloves matching the robber's attire that contained Harris's DNA.
"This case exemplifies the outstanding investigative work performed by our state and federal law enforcement partners, who swiftly identified and caught this defendant despite his efforts to conceal his identity during his violent crime," U.S. Attorney Heekin said. "This successful prosecution delivers a clear message: the safety of our community is not negotiable, and my office will aggressively prosecute these cases to keep violent offenders, like this defendant, off our streets and behind bars where they belong."
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Leon County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2026, at 2:00 pm in the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. Harris faces a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison consecutive to his robbery sentence, up to life imprisonment, up to 5 years of supervised release, and up to a $750,000 fine.
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