Montgomery County Man Convicted of Robbery and Firearm Offenses

Mohammed Zeidan, a 36-year-old resident of East Greenville, Pennsylvania, has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, and firearms conspiracy. The conviction followed a four-day trial presided over by Senior United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

According to information released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Zeidan was associated with members of the Schuylkill County chapter of the Infamous Ryders Motorcycle Club, whose president was a co-defendant. This individual allegedly recruited club members and associates for a series of armed home-invasion robberies that occurred in Schuylkill and Berks Counties during the summer and fall of 2020. Zeidan was implicated in an attempted robbery on August 29, 2020, where he and two others, disguised and armed, allegedly entered the home of a drug dealer. Their objective was to steal drugs and cash. During this incident, one of the firearms used was described as a homemade, fully automatic AR-15 style assault rifle. While Zeidan did not personally carry a firearm, he reportedly attempted to force entry and impersonated a police officer to lure the occupants from the second floor. The intended victims instead escaped by jumping from a second-story window, sustaining injuries. Zeidan and his accomplices left the premises without taking any valuables.

Following the failed robbery attempt on August 29, Zeidan was reportedly blamed by other conspirators for its lack of success. The investigation revealed that other armed home-invasion robberies were subsequently carried out by his associates in Mahanoy City and Shillington, Pennsylvania. Co-conspirators in this case, including the motorcycle club president, have already been convicted and are awaiting sentencing.

The investigation into these offenses involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Pennsylvania State Police, and several local police departments from Mahanoy City, Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville, Shillington, and Reading, as well as the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys James Buchanan and Sarah Lloyd. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement and communities. The maximum penalty for the charges Zeidan was convicted of is twenty years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by the judge after considering federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.

This conviction means that Mohammed Zeidan will face a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. The outcome of this case is part of a broader effort by law enforcement to address violent crime and gun-related offenses in the region. Residents can be assured that investigations are ongoing, and perpetrators of violent crimes are being brought to justice.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

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