Richmond Man Sentenced to 34 Years on Robbery and Firearm Charges Relating to Three Separate Robberies
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 28, 2013 |
RICHMOND, VA—Marion Carter, 58, of Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced today to 34 years in prison on three counts of robbery interfering with commerce and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of those robberies.
Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Carl Vasilko, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James R. Spencer.
On July 26, 2013, Carter was found guilty by a jury. According to the evidence presented at trial, Carter robbed three commercial businesses in less than three weeks. The first robbery took place on November 2, 2012, at the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Hill Avenue in Richmond. Carter, wearing a black mask to obscure his face, pointed a pistol at the clerk on duty and demanded money from the business. At one point, Carter asked the clerk if there was more money in the back of the store. When told there was not, Carter left with $113 he had stolen from the business.
Six days later, on November 8, 2012, Carter entered the Fast Auto Loans store on Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond, again wearing the black mask over his face. He displayed the gun again and told the clerks to put the money in the bag. Frustrated that the clerks were taking too long, he then threatened, “I'm not playing around, I will kill you.” The money was placed in a grey Walmart bag, and Carter ran out the door, taking with him $864 he had stolen from the business.
The third robbery took place on November 14, 2012, at the FasMart convenience store on Semmes Avenue. During that robbery, the store clerks ran to the back of the store and locked themselves in the back room. Carter left the store without any money.
The robber in each instance wore what appeared to be the same clothing, which seemed to match the clothing defendant was wearing at the time of his arrest. Evidence at trial included surveillance videos from the robberies and a cell tower data analysis by the FBI.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Richmond Police Department, with assistance from the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Peter Duffey and Assistant United States Attorney Heather Hart prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.