Fathy Hussein, while still on probation for a weapons offense, participated in a violent gunpoint robbery of a tobacco and smoke shop in Queens, according to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, who charged Hussein with Hobbs Act robbery.
It was just before 6 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2022 when Hussein and two other men wearing masks exited a black Mazda 3 Sedan and entered the shop. Two of the robbers immediately pointed firearms at store employees and customers while Hussein ran behind the checkout counter and emptied money from the register, the complaint said.
The trio stole about $3,000 in cash, $1,000 of CBD and marijuana products, and four cell phones.
Video cameras captured the entire robbery inside and outside the tobacco shop. All three men can be seen in video footage wearing distinctive clothes.
Hussein wore dark green pants with distinctive multicolored underwear showing above the waistband. The pattern visible on the underwear includes a large white letter "R" and text resembling the year "1990" in yellow, prosecutors said.
According to detectives, the robbers tried to sell what they stole a short time later in a nearby part of Queens. Security camera footage from that location showed Hussein and his distinctive underwear, prompting police to go out and arrest him.
The two other robbers are still at large.
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