PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A man is facing federal charges after agents say he committed armed robbery at two gas stations in Phoenix, according to newly obtained court documents.
Federal records revealed Jose Barriga is facing robbery and weapons charges after allegedly robbing two convenience stores in August, not far off Interstate 17 in Phoenix.
According to the feds, the first robbery happened at a Circle K near 27th and Missouri avenues, just south of Bethany Home Road, on Aug. 20, 2025, just before 1 a.m.
In court documents, agents said Barriga approached the register and pulled out a handgun from the front of his pants, racked the slide, and pointed it at the cashier, demanding money. The cashier ended up complying, and Barriga ran off, headed west on Missouri with $68.
The next robbery occurred the following day at the Shell gas station near 35th Avenue and Cactus Road, where he again allegedly demanded money from the register. He walked behind the store counter, took the cash drawer containing money, and then left, federal authorities said.
Investigators later identified his getaway vehicle as a Black Jeep Cherokee, which was registered to Barriga. Detectives also found a phone number that Barriga had provided Phoenix police in an unrelated case in May, which they later called while surveilling him.
According to court papers, Barriga had previously been sentenced in the Arizona Department of Corrections for attempted murder, aggravated identity theft, and a vehicle theft charge, serving 21 years for that attempted murder conviction.
He was arrested on Wednesday by the Phoenix Police, and at the time, he confirmed that his cellphone and the Cherokee SUV belonged to him, according to court documents. During a search warrant, investigators found a BB gun and a semiautomatic 9mm pistol in a bedroom closet.
During an interview with investigators, Barriga identified himself as a regular customer but denied any involvement in the armed robberies, paperwork said. He also reportedly told investigators that he had been using fentanyl but that he had been “clean” for about two weeks, the court paperwork said.
Barriga faces one federal count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
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