Armed Robber Sentenced to More Than 38 Years in Federal Prison

NEW BERN, N.C. – Frank Giles McCree, of Fairmont, was sentenced today to 457 months in prison after four armed robberies of Robeson County businesses while wearing a wig of fake dreadlocks, a Jamaican style beanie and a dark hooded sweatshirt.   On August 5, 2021, McCree was found guilty following a federal trial. 

McCree was convicted of 13 separate charges, including four counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, four counts of Use and Carry of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence and one count of Firearm by a Felon.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, McCree, 35, committed a series of robberies in Robeson County in June 2016.  McCree robbed three different Family Dollar stores and one Dollar General store at gun point.  McCree would pretend to make a purchase and would wait until the cash drawer was opened by a clerk and then would brandish a firearm.  Threatening to shoot or kill the clerks, McCree would steal the entire drawer from the cash registers and demand that the clerks open the safes, from which he would also steal money. During two of the robberies, he also stole the store’s phone to make it more difficult to contact law enforcement and report the crimes.

On June 29, 2016, McCree was the passenger in a car that was pulled over for a traffic violation.  The car also matched the description of the car leaving the scene of the first Family Dollar robbery.  When law enforcement spoke to the driver and McCree, law enforcement noticed a dreadlock wig in the glove compartment.  McCree and the driver were removed from the car.  In the middle of the passenger floorboard, at McCree’s feet, was a loaded, .40 Hi-Point Firearm.  Also located in the car was the distinct Jamaican style beanie identified as being worn by the robber. McCree was taken into custody following the traffic stop.

While in custody, McCree made a phone to a family member asking them to get in touch with his girlfriend to get rid of something under her bed.  When law enforcement went to her home, they found a Family Dollar bag with change in it, in bank rolls consistent with how the Family Dollar gets its coins from the bank. 

In an interview, McCree admitted possession of the firearm and said he had borrowed it from a friend for protection. 

McCree was previously convicted on state charges. In 2007, McCree was convicted of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. In 2009, McCree was convicted of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Attempted Common Law Robbery also in 2009.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded.  U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan presided over the trial and sentencing.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Rowland Police Department, Maxton Police Department, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and St. Pauls Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.  7:17-cr-00134-FL-1.