Wilmington Man Sentenced for Multiple Robberies – Alan Johnson

RALEIGH, N.C., May 2 -- U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued the following news release:

United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday ALAN JOHNSON, 23, was sentenced by United States District Chief Judge Terrence W. Boyle to 608 months imprisonment; 5 years supervised release, and was ordered to pay an $800.00 special assessment.

On January 8, 2013, JOHNSON was found guilty by a jury of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Marijuana and Carrying a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime for an offense that occurred on July 10, 2011. JOHNSON was also found guilty of Conspiracy to Rob a Business Engaged in Interstate Commerce, Robbery of a Business in Interstate Commerce and Carrying a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence for an offense that occurred on July 21, 2011. He had previously pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon for an offense that occurred on August 26, 2011.

On July 10, 2011, JOHNSON and others broke into the home of a man in Wilmington, North Carolina attempting to rob him of drugs and money. During the course of the home invasion, the victim was pistol whipped when he denied having marijuana. After relenting and giving the defendants a quantity of marijuana, JOHNSON demanded to know where the rest of the drugs were. When the victim was adamant that he had given up all the narcotics he had in his possession, JOHNSON shot the victim four times. The victim was able to run out of his home and escape.

On July 21, 2011, JOHNSON and two other men entered Able Auto Insurance Agency in Wilmington, North Carolina. The subjects held employees and customers at gunpoint while demanding the businesses' money. After robbing the business of approximately $5,700, the men fled in a car.

During the course of the investigation into these two events, investigators interviewed co-defendants who confessed to their roles in the robberies. Those statements led law enforcement to a Dollar General store where JOHNSON and his co-defendants bought sunglasses to wear immediately prior to the Able Auto Insurance Agency Robbery. Upon arrest, JOHNSON was found in possession of a firearm. He was questioned about the two incidents and confessed to his participation in the robberies.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Special Assistant United States Attorney Charity Wilson is serving as prosecutor for the government.

Ms. Wilson is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Ben David has assigned her to the United States Attorney's Office to prosecute federal Project Safe Neighborhood cases and other violent crime cases.

TNS JF78JF-130508-4336408 EditorFurigay