clayton resident sentenced for roles in robberies
RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today RHAIM MOISES SANTIAGO, 18, of Clayton, North Carolina, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to 171 months imprisonment followed by five years supervised release for his role in a series of robberies that took place in July, 2011.
On September 28, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment that charged SANTIAGO with Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119. On December 1, 2011, SANTIAGO pleaded guilty to those offenses.
The investigation revealed that on July 28, 2011, both SANTIAGO and Ishmael Santiago, obtained a firearm with a juvenile co-conspirator. Both RHAIM SANTIAGO and Ishmael Santiago carried the firearm to the Walgreens located on US Highway 70 West in Clayton, North Carolina. Upon their arrival, both RHAIM SANTIAGO and Ishmael Santiago entered the Walgreens with the firearm, approached the clerk, and demanded the money in the cash register. As the robbery was taking place, SANTIAGO assaulted the clerk by hitting the clerk in the head with the firearm. After obtaining cash from the register, the defendants fled the area on foot.
The investigation further revealed that on July 29, 2011, the day after the Walgreens robbery, SANTIAGO approached a resident of Clayton. He then pointed a gun at the victim’s chest and demanded the keys to the victim’s vehicle, which was parked nearby. The victim complied with SANTIAGO’s demands and SANTIAGO fled the area in the victim’s vehicle. The victim’s small child was with the victim as the robbery occurred. After a short police chase, SANTIAGO wrecked the vehicle. He was arrested shortly thereafter.
Ishmael Santiago is currently scheduled to be sentenced in April, 2012.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Clayton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rudy E. Renfer represented the government.
