Mekhi Marquise Hooi, Armed Robbery, North Carolina 2024

A brazen armed robbery shook the small town of Knightdale, North Carolina, leaving a local business owner shaken. Mekhi Marquise Hooi, a 20-year-old New York man, has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for the crime.

According to court documents, on September 19, 2024, Hooi entered the Lowest Price Tobacco and Vape in Knightdale, brandishing a 9mm firearm. He charged the clerk, demanding money and tobacco products in a bag while threatening to shoot the clerk if he did not move faster.

The robbery lasted mere minutes, but the consequences were severe. Hooi fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of fear and destruction. He was ultimately apprehended in New York City and extradited to North Carolina to face his charges.

Hooi's sentencing comes as a relief to the business owner and community, who had lived in fear of the perpetrator. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Knightdale Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser prosecuting the case.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and the swift justice system in place to protect the public.

Mekhi Marquise Hooi, 20, of New York, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The crime occurred in Knightdale, North Carolina on September 19, 2024. The case number is 5:24-CR-62-D-RN.

The community can rest a little easier knowing that justice has been served. The swift prosecution and sentencing of Hooi sends a clear message that armed robbery will not be tolerated in our communities.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/armed-robber-new-york-sentenced-10-years