Skip to main content
Press Release

Man Convicted of Hobbs Act Robbery and Firearm Crimes

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Newport News man late yesterday on charges of Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Antoine Dion Harris, aka “Fattwan,” 31, robbed a Hampton ABC Liquor Store in February 2019. Harris walked into the store, picked up a bottle of Hennessey liquor from the shelf, and before the victim could ring up the purchase, Harris pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at the victim and told her that she had 30 seconds to give him all of her money before he began counting down. The victim complied with Harris’s demands and Harris ultimately got away with $88 and the bottle of Hennessey.

Harris faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on Jan. 14, 2020. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Terry L. Sult, Chief of Hampton Police Division, and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith accepted the verdict. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen S. Taylor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-65.

Contact

Joshua Stueve
Director of Public Affairs
joshua.stueve@usdoj.gov

Updated September 24, 2019

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Violent Crime