Charlotte Gas Station Gunmen Get Lengthy Sentences

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Charlotte men are off the streets and headed to federal prison after a late-night spree of terrorizing local gas station clerks. Keishaun Leroy Anderson, 20, and Kevin Matias Lopez, 29, received their sentences today for a series of armed robberies and attempted robberies that shook the city in November 2020.

U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. handed down a hefty 111-month sentence to Anderson, followed by three years of supervised release. Anderson pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence – a clear indication of the seriousness of his actions. Lopez received 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release after admitting guilt to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery.

The crime spree unfolded on November 1, 2020, beginning with an attempted robbery at a 7-Eleven on Nations Ford Road around 12:45 a.m. A vigilant clerk thwarted the attempt by locking the doors and calling 911 as Anderson approached brandishing what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun. The pair then moved on to a Circle K on South Tryon Street, attempting to force their way in, even resorting to a knife to cut zip ties securing the closed doors. They failed again.

Their desperation turned violent at another Circle K on South Tryon Street at approximately 1:12 a.m. This time, Anderson successfully entered the store, brandishing a shotgun and demanding money from the safe and register. He didn’t stop there. The final stop was a 7-Eleven on Steele Creek Road, where Anderson again threatened the clerk with a shotgun, taking cash, cigarettes, and cigars before fleeing. It was while responding to this last robbery that CMPD officers, anticipating the next target, spotted Anderson and Lopez arriving at another gas station on Steele Creek Road and swiftly apprehended them.

Law enforcement recovered the shotgun used in the robberies from the defendants’ vehicle. Judge Conrad, during sentencing, didn’t mince words, describing the crimes as committed in a “harrowing and menacing fashion.” The defendants are currently in federal custody and will be transferred to a Bureau of Prisons facility once designated. The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Scherck, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) under Chief Johnny Jennings.

Assistant United States Attorneys Regina Pack and David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte successfully prosecuted the case. U.S. Attorney Dena J. King praised the collaborative work of the FBI and CMPD, stating their dedication brought these dangerous criminals to justice and ensured the safety of Charlotte’s citizens – or at least, a temporary respite from their brand of violence.