Man Involved in Raleigh Armed Robberies Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Amir Williams, age 25, of Newark, New Jersey was sentenced to 235 months in prison for a string of armed robberies in Raleigh in March of 2022. Williams pled guilty on October 10, 2023, to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting and a single count of brandishing a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.

“Nobody should have a gun put to their face simply for doing their job. We want to locate this brazen violence in Raleigh,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Our Violent Crime Action Plan puts dangerous felons like Williams at the top of our priority list.”

According to court records and evidence presented in court, between March 4 and March 7, 2022, Williams robbed a Dollar General and a Circle K gas station in Raleigh. In each instance Williams entered the business with a co-conspirator, then he would point a firearm at an employee and demand money while counting down to zero. He and his co-conspirator would then leave the business in a stolen vehicle to escape with the proceeds from the robberies.  Williams was arrested on April 1, 2022, on an unrelated matter and ultimately confessed to his participation in the robberies.

The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Raleigh Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00045-M.