Former Jacksonville Man Sentenced For Robbery

NEW BERN – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that yesterday in federal court, Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced carlos devaughn varnell , 26, of Mississippi, formerly of Jacksonville, North Carolina, to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
VARNELL was named in an Indictment  filed on April 4, 2013, charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and Hobbs Act Robbery; aiding and abetting.  On August 15, 2013, VARNELL pled guilty to those charges. 
According to the investigation, VARNELL was the driver of a car, stopped by the Jacksonville Police Department on April 30, 2012, shortly after a cab driver reported being robbed at gunpoint by two males.  Two firearms were recovered from Varnell’s car, and both Varnell and his passenger were charged with the robbery. 

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Jacksonville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette represented the government.