FARGO - U. S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers announced that on April 25, 2016, Carlos Henry Bethel, 28, Fargo, ND, was sentenced before U. S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson to serve nine (9) years six (6) months in prison for Interference with Commerce by Threats and Violence- Hobbs Act Robbery and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Judge Erickson also sentenced Bethel to serve three (3) years of supervised release and to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
On Sept. 28, 2015, Bottle Barn Wine and Liquor, 2515 South University Dr., and The Spirit Shop Liquor Store, 1404 33rd St. S., were robbed within an hour of each other. Bethel pled guilty on Jan. 9, 2016, to robbing Bottle Barn while brandishing a firearm and threatening the cashier to hand over money. As part of the plea agreement, Bethel and co-defendant Andrew Jerome Ford agreed that they participated or aided and abetted the following crimes:
(a) A home invasion on June 24, 2015, in Hillsboro, North Dakota, where currency was stolen;
(b) A burglary resulting in a stolen firearm in Hillsboro in or about July through September 2015;
(c) A burglary of a vehicle in Fargo, North Dakota, in which monetary instruments were stolen on or about Aug. 24, 2015, and on or about Sept. 24, 2015;
(d) A burglary of a residence in Fargo, resulting in the theft of five firearms on or about Sept. 24, 2015;
(e) Setting fire to four dumpsters in Fargo in an effort to determine law enforcement response time on or about Sept. 28, 2015, as well as robbery of The Spirit Shop Liquor Store in Fargo;
(f) The pistol whipping assault of a victim resulting in serious bodily injury including unconsciousness on or about Sept. 19, 2015, in Fargo; and,
(g) Conspiracy to distribute marijuana in North Dakota.
Judge Erickson sentenced co-defendant Ford to 8 ½ years on April 19, 2016.
This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATFE).
U. S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
