Fayetteville Man Indicted for String of Robberies and Firearm Charges

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a Federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned a nine-count indictment charging MICHAEL DEVONTE HILL, age 29, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, with one count of stealing a firearm, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of using, discharging, and/or brandishing a firearm while committing a Hobbs Act robbery, one count of possessing a stolen firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

The indictment alleges that on July 14, 2017, HILL stole a firearm and on July 25, 2017, he robbed a Circle K store located on Rosehill Road in Fayetteville.  During the robbery, HILL discharged the stolen firearm.  On July 28, 2017, HILL robbed another Circle K located on Yadkin Road in Fayetteville and brandished a firearm during that robbery.  On July 30, 2017, HILL robbed a Circle K located on Owens Drive in Fayetteville and also brandished a firearm during that robbery.  On August 2, 2017, at the time of his arrest, HILL possessed a stolen firearm as a convicted felon.

If convicted of these charges, HILL would face a sentence of not less than 60 years’ imprisonment and not more than 5 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Fayetteville Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney James J. Kurosad is prosecuting the case for the government.