Richmond Man Convicted on Robbery and Firearms Charges for Three Separate Robberies

RICHMOND, VA—Marion Carter, 58, of Richmond, Virginia, was convicted today by a federal jury on three counts of robbery interfering with commerce and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of those robberies.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Carl Vasilko, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by United States District Judge James R. Spencer. Carter faces a maximum term of 20 years for each of the three robberies and five years to life imprisonment on each of the three firearms charges when he is sentenced on October 28, 2013.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Carter robbed three commercial businesses in less than three weeks. The first robbery took place on November 2, 2012, at the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Hill Avenue in Richmond. The second robbery occurred on November 8, 2012, at the Fast Auto Loans store on Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond. Carter acquired approximately $900 from the first two robberies. The third robbery took place on November 14, 2012, at the FasMart convenience store on Semmes Avenue. During that robbery, the store clerks ran to the back of the store and locked themselves in the back room. Carter left the store without any money. Evidence at trial included surveillance videos from the robberies and a cell tower data analysis by the FBI.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Richmond Police Department, with assistance from the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Peter Duffey and Special Assistant United States Attorney Heather Hart prosecuted this 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.