A federal jury has convicted Janathian Porter, 27, of Franklin, on a charge of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Porter, also known as Frankboy Nate, Nate, or Nate Dog, entered a guilty plea for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Court records and evidence presented at trial showed that Leonra Douglas, also known as Leondra, Leondre, or Worm, 26, arranged a drug transaction on October 28, 2024. During the meeting with a marijuana dealer and Porter, Porter robbed the dealer at gunpoint and took the dealer’s firearm. Both Porter and Douglas left the scene in separate vehicles.
On November 1, 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle believed to be involved in the October robbery. Douglas was driving with three minor children inside. Officers found a stolen handgun under the driver’s seat. As someone previously convicted of a felony, Douglas is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On November 12, 2024, another incident occurred when Porter was seen searching through a man’s vehicle at his home. The victim noticed property missing from his car and followed Porter as he tried to leave in another vehicle. The pursuit ended in a cul-de-sac where Porter fired shots at the victim. Shell casings recovered matched the caliber of another firearm reported stolen that evening near where Porter had been seen breaking into cars.
Porter has eight prior felony convictions including breaking and entering, grand larceny, buying or receiving stolen goods, eluding police or endangering police officers; he has also been convicted twice each for probation violations and hit-and-run offenses. As such he is barred from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
Douglas pleaded guilty on August 25 to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Both defendants face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on January 30, 2026; however actual sentences are often less than maximum penalties after consideration by federal district court judges using U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia,” together with “Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division,” announced these outcomes following acceptance by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.
The Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office contributed to investigating both October 28 and November 1 offenses while Franklin Police Department assisted with events on November 12.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Cheney, Anthony Marek and Kristin G. Bird are prosecuting these cases.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America,” an initiative focused on combating violent crime nationwide by coordinating Department of Justice resources through Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Additional information about this case can be found via the website for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or by searching Case Nos. 2:25-cr-62; 2:25-cr-77; and 2:25-cr-78 on PACER.
