FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY - November 4, 2008

ANGIER MAN RECEIVES OVER 21 YEARS FOR ROBBERY AND GUN CHARGE

NEW BERN - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced MARCUS ROBERT WILLIAMS, 22, of Angier, North Carolina, to 262 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Restitution was also imposed in the amount of $790.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on September 5, 2007. On June 2, 2008, WILLIAMS pled guilty to robbery of a business in interstate commerce and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, aiding and abetting. On May 10, 2007, WILLIAMS and co-defendant, Simon Perez Faison, who was also charged in the same Indictment, entered the Community Mart in Raleigh, North Carolina. After selecting small items, both approached the cashier. Faison, armed with a Remington .22 caliber rifle, removed the weapon from his pants and pointed it at the cashier. While Faison pointed the rifle at the cashier, WILLIAMS reached over the count and removed money from the cash register. WILLIAMS then demanded that the cashier turn over any additional cash, which she did. Faison and WILLIAMS quickly left the store with $1,988. The robbery was immediately reported and within minutes a North Carolina Highway Patrolman spotted the getaway vehicle. When the vehicle stopped, WILLIAMS fled. He was later identified and arrested.

“Violent crimes, such as this, will not be tolerated in this district. We are pleased with the sentence that was handed down today,” commented Mr. Holding.

Faison was previously sentenced by Judge Flanagan on March 5, 2008, and received a sentence of 121 months’ imprisonment.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wake County Sheriff’s 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