Man sentenced in federal court for role in jewelry store robberies in Elizabeth City and Garner

Published 8:02 am Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A High Point man was sentenced February 26 to 411 months in prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence, witness tampering and aiding and abetting in those crimes, according to a press release from the Department of Justice, Eastern District of North Carolina.

Charles Walker Jr., a/k/a “Supreme,” 56, was convicted on December 11, 2020 after a jury trial in New Bern. The case involved two Hobbs Act robberies at Kay Jewelry stores, one in Elizabeth City and one in Garner. The robbers were able to get away with almost $600,000 worth of jewelry, according to the press release.

“These were violent robberies as firearms were brandished during both robberies. During one of the robberies, a store employee was handcuffed behind her back and left in a backroom of the store. During the trial, the defendant took the stand and admitted during cross-examination that he is closely associated with a high-ranking blood member in Greensboro,” stated the release.

Get the latest headlines sent to you

“Walker is an extremely violent and dangerous individual. He was previously convicted of first-degree murder. He ultimately won a new trial and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact to murder after he had served 17 years in prison,” continued the release.

Robert J. Higdon Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Elizabeth City Police Department, the Garner Police Department, and the Greensboro Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Dodson and Daniel W. Smith prosecuted the case.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Two charged in fatal shooting on North Carolina highway

Fuel tanker overturns, killing one and closing I-95 in North Carolina