A 45-year-old Ocala man accused of robbing a local Family Dollar at gunpoint and stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry from a store inside the Paddock Mall has been indicted on federal charges.
On Tuesday, December 17, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Danny Anzardo with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime.
According to court documents, Anzardo allegedly robbed two establishments – a Family Dollar in Marion County and a jewelry store inside the Paddock Mall in Ocala – on Tuesday, October 29.
The first robbery occurred at around 3:30 p.m. on October 29, when Anzardo allegedly entered the Family Dollar store while wearing a hoodie, hat, and face mask. He then allegedly pointed a firearm at a cashier and demanded money from the cash register.
The indictment alleges that after receiving around $88 from the cash register, Anzardo fled from the Family Dollar.
A few hours later, at around 6:25 p.m., multiple Ocala Police Department officers responded to the Paddock Mall (3100 SW College Road) in reference to a robbery incident at one of its stores, Ocala Jewelers.
OPD stated that a suspect, later identified as Anzardo, had entered Ocala Jewelers at around 5:50 p.m. While inside the store, Anzardo allegedly stole several pieces of jewelry, including gold chains and a diamond ring set.
The stolen jewelry was valued at around $13,000.
During the jewelry store robbery, Ocala police stated that Anzardo implied he had a firearm and threatened to kill an employee. He then fled from the mall prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
An investigation was launched, and OPD stated that officers were able to identify Anzardo as the suspect in this case. A day after the robberies were committed, officers responded to Anzardo’s place of employment, where he was located and placed under arrest.
Officers conducted a search inside Anzardo’s vehicle, where they allegedly located “some of the stolen items,” according to OPD.
During an interview with investigators, Anzardo allegedly confessed to both robberies and admitted to using a firearm during the first robbery at Family Dollar. He then told investigators that he “disposed of (the firearm) in a lake” prior to robbing the jewelry store at Paddock Mall, according to the indictment.
Anzardo was transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
If Anzardo is convicted of the robbery offenses, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery. Additionally, the firearm offense carries a minimum sentence of seven years, up to life, in federal prison, which must be served consecutively to any prison term imposed for the robberies.