A Charlotte man, Andrew Marquis Jackson, aged 32, was found guilty on a series of armed robberies that shook the community, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson reported. Jackson faced the weight of the law for three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts relating to firearms in connection with a violent crime, and one count for possession and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime spree.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina James C. Barnacle, Jr., and CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings corroborated Ferguson’s announcement. During the trial, harrowing testimonies and documented evidence painted a stark image of the crimes. On January 24 and 27, 2023, and February 1, 2023, witnesses recounted how Jackson, along with Joshuan Jon’tavious Blount and Messiah Lynn Blair, terrorized local businesses at gunpoint, instilling fear across Charlotte. Jackson’s role included demanding cash at gunpoint, firing shots, and, during one incident, holding an employee under the threat of his firearm while his accomplices gathered the loot, with Blount doubling as a driver and a decoy customer, respectively.
With the jury’s decision, Jackson now awaits sentencing, which could amount to 20 years for each robbery and conspiracy charge, and a potential life sentence for the counts involving firearms. The court will determine his fate after considering the federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Despite the latitude accorded to the judges, Jackson is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 27 years, as made clear by the court records. The date of sentencing is yet to be announced…