Flores-Garcia Sentenced for Armed Carjacking in NC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Solamon Flores-Garcia, a 43-year-old Mexican national, faced the hard-knuckle justice of a federal courtroom today as he was sentenced to a decade behind bars for an armed carjacking spree that shocked Monroe, North Carolina.

Flores-Garcia, who had been deported and was living illegally in Monroe, escalated his criminal endeavors on October 24, 2023. The day began with a door-to-door confrontation, where he threatened a neighbor with a red handgun, demanding her wallet and car keys. Unbeknownst to the victim, this was just the beginning of a violent streak.

The spree culminated at La Chiquita Mexican store, where Flores-Garcia robbed the establishment at gunpoint. He pointed the firearm directly at the clerk’s head before absconding with cash and making a getaway in the stolen vehicle. But justice was swift; he was apprehended shortly after the crime.

Standing before U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI for North Carolina, James C. Barnacle, Jr., along with Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, Flores-Garcia faced the full weight of the law. Today’s sentencing is a stark reminder of the consequences that follow when violence meets criminal intent.

Flores-Garcia remains in custody pending transfer to a federal facility, where he will serve out his sentence. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), while the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case with unwavering determination.

This verdict sends a chilling message across North Carolina: violent crime does not pay, and those who commit it will face justice, no matter how far they try to flee.