Man Sentenced to More Than 34 Years in Federal Court for Planning and Aiding Pair of Jewelry Store Robberies in Elizabeth City and Garner

NEW BERN, N.C. – A High Point man was sentenced today to 411 months in prison for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence, witness tampering and aiding and abetting in those crimes.

Charles Walker, Jr., a/k/a “Supreme,” 56, was convicted on December 11, 2020, after a jury trial in New Bern.  The case involved two Hobbs Act robberies at Kay Jewelry stores, one in Elizabeth City and one in Garner. The robbers were able to get away with almost $600,000.00 worth of jewelry. These were violent robberies as firearms were brandished during both robberies.  During one of the robberies, a store employee was handcuffed behind her back and left in a backroom of the store.  During the trial, the defendant took the stand and admitted during cross-examination that he is closely associated with a high-ranking blood member in Greensboro.

Walker is an extremely violent and dangerous individual. He was previously convicted of first-degree murder.  He ultimately won a new trial and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact to murder after he had served 17 years in prison.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Elizabeth City Police Department, the Garner Police Department, and the Greensboro Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Dodson and Daniel W. Smith  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-CR-37-FL-1.

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