Food Lion Robber Gets 20 Years

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Emmanuel Norman, 27, of Hampton, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years and one month in prison for his role in the robbery and shooting of a beer vendor in the Hampton Food Lion Store on October 21, 2011.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Henry C. Morgan. Norman pled guilty on December 7, 2011.

According to court documents, the defendant and a conspirator, Jeffrey Malcou, posing as FBI agents, robbed a Food Lion grocery store in Hampton. During the course of the robbery, the defendants placed what appeared to be explosive devices on the employees of the Food Lion. They threatened to blow the employees up if they tried to do anything to stop them. An altercation occurred between Jeffrey Malcou and a beer vendor who was inside the Food Lion at the time of the robbery. The defendant discharged a firearm, shooting the vendor in the leg. The victim testified at the sentencing hearing and is still recovering from his injuries. Malcou’s case is scheduled for trial in Newport News Federal Court on April 17, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Hampton Police Department and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Bradenham, II and Special Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Price prosecuted the 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. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.