Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To 34+ Years For Armed Robbery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Robert Lee Barringer, 49, of Charlotte, was sentenced on Monday to 412 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for the armed robbery of a Charlotte-area business, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

According to court documents and court proceedings, on July 26, 2021, at approximately 10:15 p.m., CMPD officers responded to the Fish House North, a business engaged in adult arcade games, in reference to a shooting and robbery. Officers encountered three victims on the scene, an employee, his wife, and a security guard who worked for the establishment. All three victims had suffered gunshot wounds and had sustained serious and extensive injuries. According to court documents, the victims stated that an individual, later identified as Barringer, had robbed the business. The victims indicated that Barringer had approached the business and as he was trying to force his way into the business, he began to shoot at the victims striking them. After Barringer entered the business, he shot his firearm several more times at the victims. Barringer then ordered one of the victims to hand over the keys to the register and forced another victim to open the register. Barringer stole $3,500 from the business and fled the scene.

After speaking with the victims, law enforcement determined that Barringer was a former employee who had been fired approximately a month prior. Crime scene investigators recovered 17 cartridge casings from the scene and observed multiple bullet holes within the business. On July 28, 2021, law enforcement located and arrested Barringer at a hotel in Charlotte.

On August 5, 2022, Barringer was found guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, and use, carry, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Barringer has a lengthy criminal history for federal and state convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Barringer will remain in federal custody pending designation of a federal facility by the federal Bureau of Prisons.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hess and Timothy Sielaff prosecuted the case.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.