Ronnie Deese, Home Invasion, NC 2023

MAXTON, NC – Ronnie Deese, 39, of Maxton, North Carolina, will spend the next two decades behind bars after being sentenced to 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence, handed down by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, stems from a brazen home invasion and shooting that left a victim wounded and a stash of marijuana stolen.

The incident unfolded on May 28, 2016, when Robeson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a Tuscarora Nation Road residence following reports of a shooting. Investigators quickly learned that Deese, armed with a firearm, forced his way into the home after assaulting an initial victim. According to court documents, Deese demanded marijuana from the homeowner, and when the request was denied, he shot the man in the foot.

But the violence didn’t begin at the house. Prior to the home invasion, Deese allegedly confronted another man near a creek, striking him repeatedly in the head with the same firearm. He then forced the injured man to drive him to the target residence, explicitly directing him to “where the grass was” – a clear reference to the marijuana he intended to steal. After ransacking the home and fleeing with a trash bag containing approximately $5,000 worth of marijuana, Deese left a trail of violence and fear.

A subsequent search of Deese’s residence on June 2, 2016, yielded further evidence. Investigators discovered a stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol hidden in his master bedroom, linking him directly to the crimes. Deese was already wanted on outstanding warrants related to the shooting and robbery when authorities executed the search warrant.

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, John Stuart Bruce, highlighted that this case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The PSN program specifically targets repeat offenders who contribute to gun violence within their communities.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Peggah Wilson led the prosecution, securing the 20-year sentence for Deese. This case serves as a stark reminder that armed robbery and gun violence will be met with swift and severe consequences in federal court.