Armed Robberies in Eastern North Carolina Land Kinston Man in Jail
RALEIGH, NC – Between August 24, 2015, and May 15, 2016, a series of armed robberies shook the Eastern District of North Carolina and elsewhere. One of the perpetrators, Keenan Gerron Drake, 25, of Kinston, NC, has been sentenced to 54 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Drake was named in a 14-count Indictment filed on February 28, 2017. He subsequently pled guilty to two-counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Aiding and Abetting. The indictment was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which targets repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.
On December 19, 2015, Drake and his accomplices robbed the Family Dollar in Faison, NC, making off with $62.84. The next day, they targeted the U.S. Cellular store in Kenansville, NC, stealing $1,825.86. The investigation was conducted by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, the Kenansville Police Department, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, the Snow Hill Police Department, the Kinston Police Department, the New Bern Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution of this case for the government. The case is a prime example of the PSN initiative in action, demonstrating the effectiveness of a unified effort against gun crime.
Keenan Gerron Drake will serve 54 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. The community can rest easier knowing that justice has been served.
This case is a reminder that armed robbery will not be tolerated in our communities. The perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions, and the victims will receive the justice they deserve.
The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced the sentencing, stating that the community can trust that the Eastern District will continue to work tirelessly to keep them safe.
Keenan Gerron Drake, Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Aiding and Abetting, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2017.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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