Charlotte Man Convicted Of Armed Robbery And Firearms Offenses Is Sentenced To 26+ Years In Prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced today that Ron McQuay Garland, 39, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 319 months in prison and five years of supervised release, for his role in a string of armed robberies, attempted armed robberies, and related firearms offenses.

Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer is joined in making today’s announcement by Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

According to filed court documents, evidence presented at Garland’s trial, and witness testimony, on August 19, 2019, Garland, robbed at gunpoint a Zaxby’s fast food restaurant, located at 8905 Albemarle Road in Charlotte. Garland entered the restaurant while brandishing a black semiautomatic pistol at the employees. Garland then ordered an employee to open the cash register and took approximately $1,000 in cash. Garland subsequently fled the scene with a co-defendant. According to trial evidence, on September 21, 2019, Garland also robbed a Family Dollar store located at 4130 Rozzelles Ferry Road, in Charlotte. As witnesses testified, Garland entered the store and brandished a handgun at a store employee. Garland then forced the employee to open the register and Garland stole approximately more than $1,000 before fleeing.

According to court documents and trial evidence, Garland also attempted to rob two other Charlotte area businesses. On August 21, 2019, Garland attempted to rob an Arby’s fast food restaurant, located at 2501 Little Rock Road in Charlotte. Garland entered the restaurant, pointed a handgun at the employees and demanded money from the cash register. Garland was unable to open the register but took an employee’s cell phone before fleeing the scene with a co-defendant. On February 11, 2020, Garland also attempted to rob a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant, located at 10121 North Tryon Street in Charlotte. Garland pointed a firearm at an employee who was taking out the trash and attempted to enter the restaurant, first through the back door and then through the front door but was ultimately unsuccessful. Garland stole a wallet from a customer in the parking lot after eventually abandoning the attempted robbery. Garland fled the scene with a co-defendant and was apprehended early the next morning by the FBI and CMPD.  

In July 2021, a federal jury convicted Garland of two counts of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, or “Hobbs Act” Robbery; two counts of attempted Hobbs Act Robbery; two counts of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Garland’s co-defendant, Chan Tate, was previously sentenced after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting Hobbs Act Robbery and attempted Hobbs Act Robbery.

The investigation was handled by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force and CMPD. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Taylor Stout of the of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecution.