Two Lenoir City residents face federal charges for their roles in a Jan. 30 robbery of a Burger King in Lenoir City, and the Clinton Police Department contributed to the arrests, federal officials said Thursday.
In a press release, U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said Joshua Hayworth, 23, and Timothy E. Chudley, 35, both of Lenoir City, were charged Feb. 5 with federal Hobbs Act violations for their roles in the January robbery of the Burger King restaurant in Lenoir City.
Chudley was arrested in Knoxville on Feb. 5 without incident, and he appeared in federal court the same day, the press release said. Hayworth was arrested on state charges on Feb. 3 following a series of events which also resulted in federal carjacking charges against Hayworth. He will appear in federal court at a later date.
The criminal complaint on file with the U.S. District Court charges both men with federal Hobbs Act violations, while Hayworth is also charged with carjacking. The complaint alleges that Hayworth, with the assistance of Chudley, planned the robbery of the Lenoir City Burger King. According to the complaint, Hayworth was observed on Feb. 3 driving a stolen vehicle in Knoxville, which Hayworth abandoned in a trailer park on Bob Gray Road as law enforcement pursued, the press release said.
Later the same day, Hayworth is accused of carjacking another vehicle from a pregnant female on Doubletree Lane in Knoxville, which he wrecked on Bob Gray Road. After fleeing on foot, it is alleged that Hayworth broke into a residence, where he was apprehended by law enforcement. Follow-up investigation by the multiple agencies involved uncovered Chudley’s role in the robbery scheme, the release said.
It said the arrests are the result of joint efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF), composed of the FBI, Knoxville Police Department, and Knox County Sheriff’s Department, the Lenoir City Police Department, KPD, KCSO, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clinton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Norris will represent the United States.
“Members of the public are reminded that the complaint constitutes only charges, and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Killian said.
