Raleigh Man Sentenced to 240 Months' Imprisonment in Federal Prison for Hobbys Act Robbery While Armed with a Firearm

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today, DAVID KAREEM TURPIN, 45, of Raleigh, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III to 240 months imprisonment, followed by five years’ supervised release after the term of imprisonment.

TURPIN was charged in a five-count indictment on May 17, 2017 with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence. TURPIN pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.

The investigation arose following the robberies of businesses in Raleigh. On July 27, 2016, TURPIN entered a Wal-Mart store in Raleigh, abducted a manager at gunpoint, forced the manager to the safe room and stole $30,899.56 from the safe. On July 28, 2016, TURPIN entered a Food Lion in Raleigh, brandished a firearm and held the gun to an employee’s chest and stole $ 4,343.72. During the robbery, TURPIN threatened the clerk.  During a July 25, 2016, robbery, TURPIN entered a Family Dollar store in Raleigh, brandished a firearm, and stole $204.00.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Raleigh Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Peggah B. Wilson and Jane J. Jackson represented the government in this case.