Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To 14 Years On Gun Charge In Connection With Armed Robbery And Possession Of A Weapon By An Inmate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Antoine Marquis Williams, 35, of Charlotte, to 14 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearms offense in connection with an armed robbery and possession of a weapon by an inmate, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, Terry J. Burgin, United States Marshal of the United States Marshals Service for the Western District of North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on February 5, 2019, at 4:37 p.m., Williams and another individual entered the NY Jewelry & Repair Store located at 6121 South Boulevard in Charlotte. Williams and his co-conspirator had their faces covered and were armed with handguns. The two men encountered the store owner who was with a customer and ordered him into the backroom with two other employees. Court documents show that Williams and his co-conspirator then went to the front of the store and began stealing jewelry. Afterwards, Williams’ co-conspirator fled the store with several items. Williams stayed behind and became involved in a struggle with the store owner. At some point during the struggle, Williams discharged his firearm two times before fleeing the store. The owner called 911 and CMPD officers located Williams hiding under a vehicle at a nearby residence. Officers also recovered the firearm Williams had used during the robbery and had attempted to discard while he was fleeing from the store.

According to court documents, on September 2, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Service received a criminal investigation concerning Williams for repeated possession of weapons and use of weapons while he was in federal custody at a local detention facility. Court documents in this case indicate that, on four different occasions, Williams was found in possession of homemade weapons, generally consisting of pieces of metal filed down to a point. On one occasion, Williams used a homemade weapon to attack another inmate. During the altercation, Williams cut the victim with the homemade weapon multiple times on the face and neck. The victim required medical treatment due to injuries sustained from the attack.

On April 28, 2021, Williams pleaded guilty to discharge of a firearm, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence, in connection with the armed robbery. Then on June 24, 2022, Williams pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by an inmate. Williams remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and CMPD for their investigative efforts.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.