Four Indicted For Robbery And Firearm Offense

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that a federal grand jury in Raleigh, North Carolina returned a three count indictment charging JAMES STEPHEN THORPE a/k/a J1, JOSHUA RAYSHAWN MELVIN a/k/a J.O., ERVIN MONTEZ ALSTON, JR. a/k/a Wes or Wesley, and JAHID PRESTON DIGGS with conspiring to commit interference with commerce by robbery; interference with commerce by robbery; and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.

The investigation revealed that on March 16, 2015, THORPE, MELVIN, ALSTON and DIGGS committed a home invasion and robbery of the victim and others in the victim’s residence. During the robbery, the victim was shot and others in the home were injured and threatened.  All four defendants are in custody awaiting their next court appearance.

If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment on both robbery counts. They also face not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment for the firearms offense.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Durham Police Department, Morrisville Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, and the North Carolina Department of Probation and Parole.