Darlington Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Gun Charges in Federal Court

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Kenneth Eric Coe, Jr. a/k/a “Junior,” age 23, of Darlington, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to aiding and abetting Robbery of United States Government Property, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2114 and 2, and aiding and abetting the Use of and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c) and 2.  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on March 29, 2017, Coe along with another individual robbed a person having lawful charge, custody, and control of $400.00 belonging to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives by use of a firearm.  During the hearing, the agent presented evidence that during the robbery, a firearm was pointed at the victim in order to force the victim to give up the cash. 

Under Coe’s plea agreement, he faces a mandatory minimum of seven years imprisonment with a maximum penalty of life in prison. 

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hartsville Police Department.   Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Hummel of the Florence office and J.D. Rowell and William Lewis of the Columbia office handled the case.

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