FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FRIDAY - September 2, 2011

ROBBER PLEADS GUILTY TO FIREARM CHARGES

RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday BILLY JOE SCOTT, 24, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, pled guilty before United States District Judge James C. Dever III, to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on May 4, 2011.

According to the investigation, SCOTT, armed with a handgun, robbed the same Exxon station in Fayetteville four different times from November 29, 2010, to January 4, 2011. On the last robbery, the clerk was able to sound a silent alarm, to which law enforcement responded. A foot chase ensued to a nearby trailer park where SCOTT was seen stuffing items under one of the trailers. Following his capture, a search for the items was begun. A .32 caliber Smith and Wesson Long Model 732 handgun was located.

At sentencing, set for the December 5, 2011, term of court, SCOTT faces a minimum of seven years on the first count, and a minimum additional 25 years for the second count.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fayetteville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jay Exum prosecuted the case.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.