A Lakeland couple, Andres Correa and Cassandra Kerr, have been arrested and charged with Hobbs Act robbery following a series of armed robberies in the Tampa area in August 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the arrests and criminal complaints on Monday.
According to the complaint, Correa is accused of committing multiple armed robberies during the month. Kerr allegedly assisted Correa during two incidents by acting as a lookout.
On August 5, 2025, Correa and Kerr reportedly robbed a gas station in Tampa. The complaint states that Correa brandished a pistol and pressed it into a victim’s stomach while demanding money from the business. Kerr remained outside in her vehicle as a lookout.
Two days later, on August 7, they are accused of robbing a food mart in Tampa. During this incident, Correa allegedly held a store clerk at gunpoint until he received cash from the register while Kerr again acted as lookout.
The complaint further alleges that on August 19, 2025, Correa robbed a smoke shop in Seffner. He reportedly pulled out a pistol from his chest area, grabbed a customer, and pointed the firearm at the back of the victim’s head and neck while demanding money from the clerk. The clerk complied by handing over the cash register drawer.
Law enforcement executed search warrants at two residences on August 26, 2025. Officers found clothing matching surveillance footage descriptions, a firearm believed to have been used in the robberies, a stomach holster, and documents listing banks and smoke shops with directions to those businesses.
“These arrests were the result of joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.”
Officials emphasized that “a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America. According to authorities, this nationwide initiative aims to use Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration issues and combat violent crime associated with cartels and transnational criminal organizations by leveraging programs such as OCDETFs (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces) and PSN (Project Safe Neighborhoods).
