Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 04, 2011 |
RALEIGH—United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday JONTEZ EDWARD ARTHUR, 21, of Vanceboro, North Carolina, pled guilty before United State District Judge James C. Dever III, to aiding and abetting the robbery of a business engaged in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a federal crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).
According to the criminal indictment returned on June 29, 2011, ARTHUR robbed the Five Point Mini Mart in New Bern, North Carolina on September 18, 2010. The investigation revealed that ARTHUR, along with three other individuals, entered the store armed like a SWAT team; two of the individuals firing their weapons once inside. After the robbery, they fled the store. Responding law enforcement observed two individuals walking near the location of the robbery, one, ARTHUR, fitting the description of one of the robbers. Officers retraced the path the robbers had taken during their escape where a pair of grey sweat pants were located. A .380 handgun was located in one of the pocket of the pants. Casings taken from the robbery scene matched the handgun.
At sentencing, set for February 6, 2012, ARTHUR faces up to 20 years for the robbery charge and up to a life-term of imprisonment consecutive to any other term imposed for the firearm possession charge.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, New Bern Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jane J. Jackson is serving as prosecutor for the government.