Press Release
Federal Jury Convicts South Carolina Man of Firearms Charge
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced today that, BRANDON AHART HAMPTON, a resident of Florence, South Carolina, was convicted in a two-day jury trial before United States District Judge Terrance W. Boyle. The jury found HAMPTON guilty of Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. He previously pled guilty to a charge of Hobbs Act Robbery on February 6, 2018.
The evidence at trial showed that on December 5, 2014, HAMPTON entered the ABC Store #8 in Spring Lake, North Carolina armed with a handgun. HAMPTON pointed the firearm at the clerk’s head and threatened to kill a store clerk. HAMPTON moved the clerk at gunpoint to the back office where the safe was located. HAMPTON threatened to shoot the clerk when the clerk could not get the safe open fast enough. HAMPTON fled the store and was captured later.
HAMPTON is scheduled to be sentenced in May 2018.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Alcohol, Beverage Control Law Enforcement Division, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Ft. Bragg Military Police and the Spring Lake Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jane J. Jackson represented the government in this case.
Updated February 21, 2018
Topic
Firearms Offenses
Component