RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday DOMONIC DEVARRISE USHER, 30, was convicted of charges relating to the robberies of businesses in Goldsboro, Pikeville, and Wilson, North Carolina.  Following the four-day trial, a jury found USHER guilty of all 15 counts charged in the May 23, 2012, Superseding Indictment. Those charges include one count conspiring to rob a business engaged in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, united States Code, Section 1951(b); seven counts of robbing a business engaged in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951; and seven counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Setion 924(c)(1)(A)(1).  Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III, presided over the trial. 

     According to evidence presented at trial, USHER, along with co-conspirators, Anthony David Brown, Derrick Dove, Jr., Ivory Javaughntae Harris, Malcolm Jamal Artis, and Antonio Deonte Jones, robbed businesses over a four-month period, from 2009 to 2010.  The method used to rob each store was the same; the defendants entered the store wearing bandanas over their faces, black toboggins, and dark clothing.  At each robbery one of the defendants would point a gun at the store clerk, demanding money, while the others would seize the cash drawer from the register and/or cash from the store safe.  The robbers would then flee in a car driven by a co-conspirator who acted as a look-out during the robbery. 

Specific evidence presented revealed that on November 27, 2009, USHER and another individual robbed the Dollar General Store on South US 117 Highway, in Goldsboro, North Carolina.  They stole $2,000.00 from the register and safe.

On December 13, 2009, USHER and two additional individuals robbed the Dollar General Store on South Goldsboro Street in Pikeville, North Carolina, of $2,724.00.

On January 25, 2010, USHER, along with Brown and Artis, robbed the Dollar General Store on North US Highway 13, Goldsboro, North Carolina, of $722.00.

Two days later USHER and Brown robbered the Family Dollar Store on South George Street, Goldsboro, North Carolina, of $1,445.00.

On February 19, 2010, USHER, with Artis and Harris, robbed the Dollar General Store on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Wilson, North Carolina, of $1,500.00.

On February 23, 2010, USHER, Brown, Artis, and Harris returned to the Dollar General Store on South US Highway 117, and robbed it again.  This time they took $2,386.00.

On March 13, 2010, USHER, Brown, Artis, Harris, and Jones went back to the Dollar General Store on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, and robbed it again, taking $2,788.00.

At sentencing, set for October 15, 2012, USHER faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the conspiracy charge, up to 20 years for each of the robbery charges, and up to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of the firearm charges.

Each of the other defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentence.

Mr. Walker stated, “This case represents our commitment to the aggressive prosecution of dangerous criminals.”

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Goldsboro Police Department; the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; the Pikeville Police Department; and the Wilson Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes prosecuted the case.

 

 

Return to Top