Second District detectives have arrested two suspects who are responsible for a series of armed robberies in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.
At approximately 5:40 p.m. on February 6, 2017, the victim reported that two Hispanic males entered the store in 2200 block of Broadway and attempted to open the door that leads to the rear of the checkout counter. The door was locked so the two suspects turned to a female customer and demanded her purse and her cell phone. The victim complied and the perpetrators fled the scene.
The victims stated that one of the suspects wore a black hoodie with a cross design and was armed with a black handgun.
On February 7, 2017, Second District Detective Brett Graybill received a notice about two to three Hispanic males who had committed several armed robberies in Jefferson Parish. He then contacted Detective Anthony Buttone of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office’s (JPSO) Robbery Unit and informed him about the robbery on Broadway. Detective Buttone told Detective Graybill that one of the perpetrators in the Jefferson Parish robberies wore a black hoodie with a cross design.
On February 8, 2017, Detectives Buttone and Graybill learned that the JPSO S.T.A.R. Unit had executed a narcotics search warrant at an apartment in the 4700 block of Trenton Street the previous night. During the execution of the warrant, Carlos Ramos (DOB: 01/17/1997) and Mario Giovani (DOB: 07/19/1996) were arrested for narcotics violations and possession of a stolen firearm.
Detective Button then authored a search warrant for the same apartment. Detectives from JPSO executed the warrant with assistance from the NOPD Second District Persons Crimes Unit. During the execution of the search warrant, a black hoodie with a cross design was located in the apartment.
JPSO detectives interviewed Ramos and Giovani and Ramos confessed to taking part in the New Orleans robbery with Giovani and another Hispanic male known as “Edward” who acted as the getaway driver. Giovani confessed to numerous robberies in Jefferson Parish and acknowledged he was the owner of the hoodie with the cross design.
Detective Graybill authored arrest warrants for the Broadway Street robbery for Giovani and Ramos based on the information obtained during the investigation.
Giovani and Ramos are currently incarcerated in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. The third suspect, known only as “Edward,” is still being sought for his involvement.
If you have any information about this incident contact Detective Brett Graybill or any Second District detective at 504-658-6020.
Armed Robbery
In Louisiana, an armed robbery conviction requires the offender to be imprisoned at hard labor for 10 – 99 years, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. When a firearm is used in the commission of the crime, the offender will be imprisoned for an additional 5 years that will be served consecutively to the original sentence.