COLUMBIA, South Carolina – In a shocking turn of events, Kenneth Eric Coe, Jr., 23, of Darlington, SC, has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting robbery of United States government property and aiding and abetting the use and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence in federal court in Florence.
According to eyewitnesses, on March 29, 2017, Coe and an accomplice robbed a person having lawful charge, custody, and control of $400.00, belonging to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, by use of a firearm. The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that during the robbery, a firearm was pointed at the victim in order to force the victim to give up the cash.
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that the evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Coe was involved in the robbery and used a firearm to intimidate the victim. The agent presented evidence that during the robbery, a firearm was pointed at the victim in order to force the victim to give up the cash.
Under Coe’s plea agreement, he faces a mandatory minimum of seven years imprisonment with a maximum penalty of life in prison. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hartsville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Hummel of the Florence office and J.D. Rowell and William Lewis of the Columbia office handled the case. United States District Judge Bryan Harwell accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The defendant’s plea agreement also includes a provision for a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years. The maximum penalty for the charges is life in prison.
This case highlights the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to bring violent offenders to justice. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hartsville Police Department all played a crucial role in this investigation.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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