Jamaris Ladell Smith, a 36-year-old resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for a series of armed robberies. This announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Following his prison term, Smith will also serve three years of supervised release.
The sentence follows Smith’s guilty plea to six counts of Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm during these crimes. These events occurred over two days in January 2023 and involved multiple locations across Charlotte.
Court documents reveal that on January 17, 2023, at around 11 p.m., Smith committed his first robbery at Sam’s Mart on Sharon Road. Wearing distinctive clothing including a denim jacket with fake fur and a knit cap, he threatened the store clerk with a handgun and took cash from the register.
The following day saw several more incidents starting at approximately 3:30 p.m. at Walgreens on E WT Harris Blvd., where Smith used similar tactics to obtain money. He continued his spree later that evening at CVS on The Plaza and Circle K on Randolph Road.
On January 19, around 1:20 a.m., Smith targeted a 7-Eleven on Old Concord Road before robbing a Burger King on Sharon Road later that morning. In each case, he wore similar attire and used threats of violence to secure cash.
Smith was apprehended after investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the crime scenes and identified him through his clothing and actions. Items linking him to the robberies were found in his residence and vehicle.
In sentencing Smith, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. emphasized the importance of upholding respect for the law and ensuring public safety.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), while Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington prosecuted the case.
