FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MONDAY - July 7, 2008

TEENAGER SENTENCED FOR ARMED ROBBERY

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced DARIEL TYREE PITTMAN, 19, of Wilson, North Carolina, to 246 months’ imprisonment and five years supervised release following his term of confinement.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on October 17, 2007. On February 29, 2008, PITTMAN pled guilty to interference with commerce by threats or violence and aiding and abetting such and use of a firearm during a crime of violence and aiding and abetting such. On June 19, 2007, PITTMAN, along with co-defendant, Ryan Mercedes Rogers, entered International Styles in Wilson, North Carolina and robbed, at gunpoint, the store owner of money and store merchandise. PITTMAN and Rogers fled the scene in the stolen store vehicle. Police were summoned and after the stolen vehicle crashed, PITTMAN was arrested. A stolen Taurus .25 caliber pistol was found in the vehicle. Rogers was later apprehended. Rogers, who was previously sentenced on June 11, 2008, received 180 months’ imprisonment.

“It is a troublesome sign when teenagers are performing such acts of violence. However, with the partnering of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, crimes such as these can and will be curtailed,” commented United States Attorney Holding.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Wilson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson served as prosecutor for the government

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.