STOCKTON, CA – Douglas Sharron Piggee Jr., 51, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly holding up the Fire Wings restaurant in Stockton last July. A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment, accusing Piggee of Hobbs Act Robbery, brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime, and being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, Piggee walked into the Fire Wings restaurant on July 21, 2022, and robbed employees while waving a loaded Polymer 80 Glock 19-style handgun – a privately manufactured weapon. This wasn’t his first rodeo with the law; authorities say Piggee has a lengthy criminal history, including seven prior felony convictions.
Those prior convictions are critical. Piggee is already legally barred from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition, thanks to previous convictions for armed bank robbery and – ironically – being a felon in possession of a firearm. This latest incident adds to a pattern of brazen disregard for the law, according to federal prosecutors.
The investigation was a joint effort by the San Joaquin County Sheriff Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau will be handling the prosecution, and she’s laying out a potentially lengthy sentence if Piggee is found guilty.
If convicted on all counts, Piggee faces a minimum of seven years behind bars. However, the potential maximum sentence extends to life in prison, along with a hefty $250,000 fine. Sentencing, of course, will be up to the judge, taking into account federal guidelines and other factors. It’s important to remember that these are just allegations at this point; Piggee is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Federal officials are framing this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice launched a renewed focus on PSN in 2021, emphasizing community trust, prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. This indictment, they say, is a direct result of that renewed effort.
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