A Scotland Neck resident, Achontay Malik Cotten, 22, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison following a series of armed robberies at Dollar General stores in Franklin County, North Carolina. The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office after Cotten was found responsible for multiple violent incidents that took place in October 2023.
“Armed robbers terrorize employees and patrons alike, endangering the community,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Thanks to the quick and coordinated response, our local and federal law enforcement partners caught this criminal, so he faced the music. Our office remains committed to removing violent offenders from our communities and neighborhoods and keeping North Carolina families safe.”
James C. Barnacle Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, stated: “This 11-year federal prison sentence sends a clear message to anyone who thinks they can get away with committing a violent crime in North Carolina. You will be caught and held accountable. Thanks to the quick response of our partners at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, this armed robbery spree ended without anyone being hurt. The FBI is committed to crushing violent crime and these powerful partnerships are achieving real results to protect our communities.”
Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson expressed appreciation for collaborative efforts: “We are grateful and thankful for our continued partnership with our U.S. Attorney’s Office to remove violent offenders from our communities. We will continue working with our citizens and our local, state, and community partners to make this area a safe place to live and play.”
Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White also commented on interagency cooperation: “We value our partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in addressing violent crime in Franklin County. Our goal is focused on removing violent criminals from our communities and keeping our citizens safe.”
Court documents reveal that before October 11, 2023, Cotten and accomplices robbed several Dollar General locations throughout Franklin County. On October 11th around 9:50 p.m., deputies stationed at one store on NC 561 Highway in Louisburg witnessed three suspects committing a robbery.
When deputies intervened, the suspects fled by car, leading officers on a high-speed chase across county lines. During the pursuit, shots were fired at law enforcement vehicles from inside the fleeing car. The vehicle eventually stopped; four suspects attempted escape into nearby woods but Cotten was quickly apprehended by authorities. He later admitted to driving the getaway vehicle.
Further investigation linked Cotten to additional armed robberies at Dollar General stores earlier that week—specifically incidents on October 8th and October 10th—where employees were threatened at gunpoint before cash was stolen.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jaren Kelly and Leonard Champaign. Investigative work involved multiple agencies including the FBI Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force as well as sheriff’s offices from Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, and Warren counties.
