GOLDSBORO, NC – A brazen daylight robbery at the HI-5 Sweepstakes Vapor Shop in Goldsboro has landed 31-year-old Jason Gregory Alan Brown of Snow Hill a decade behind bars. Brown was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to a three-count indictment.
According to federal prosecutors, on February 20, 2018, Brown walked into the HI-5, spent a few minutes casing the joint, then turned menacing. Brandishing a silver handgun – later identified as a .22 or .25 caliber – he demanded cash from the cashier, then forced a store manager to lead him to the safe. Brown emptied the safe, making off with a total of $3,680. Surveillance footage from HI-5 and neighboring businesses quickly provided Goldsboro Police with a clear image of the suspect.
A press release featuring the suspect’s photo generated immediate tips, swiftly identifying Brown as the robber. However, his arrest came nearly a year later, on February 21, 2019, during a completely separate incident in Wilmington. Officers conducting surveillance at a Dollar General spotted Brown in a red SUV, openly handling and ingesting what appeared to be cocaine. A search revealed a loaded .25 caliber handgun in his right front pocket, a clear violation given his prior felony convictions.
The charges against Brown included Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon – a trifecta of serious offenses. United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. emphasized that this case is a prime example of the Department of Justice’s commitment to reducing violent crime through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.
PSN, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement, aims to make communities safer by targeting violent criminals. The Eastern District of North Carolina is actively participating in PSN through the “Take Back North Carolina Initiative,” assigning federal prosecutors to work directly with local agencies to combat violent crime, drug trafficking, and threats against law enforcement.
The investigation into the HI-5 robbery and Brown’s subsequent arrest was a joint effort by the Goldsboro Police Department, the Wilmington Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case, securing a significant sentence that sends a clear message: armed robbery won’t be tolerated in Eastern North Carolina.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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