Daniel P. Bubar Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina
A Rocky Mount resident received a sentence of 218 months in prison following a court ruling in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kaleb Joseph Coppage, aged 23, was convicted of robbery and using a firearm during multiple violent crimes. The charges stem from incidents in late 2023 involving the robbery of two stores.
On November 30, 2023, Coppage targeted a Dollar General on W. Raleigh Blvd. in Rocky Mount. Entering the store wearing a facemask, he brandished an AR-style pistol at an employee and demanded money. Coppage made off with over $2,800 before fleeing on foot.
In a second robbery on December 8, 2023, Coppage entered a Circle K on Dortches Blvd., also masked, and wielded the same type of pistol. The store employee complied with his demands, handing over around $60 in a bag that included a GPS tracker. Authorities later used the tracker to find Coppage in a stolen vehicle. A ensuing high-speed chase ended in a collision after which Coppage fled on foot. A stolen AR-style pistol was recovered from the car he abandoned.
Investigators later linked Coppage to both robberies using an ankle monitor he was required to wear while on probation. Coppage confessed to both the robberies and the vehicle theft upon arrest.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar commented, "Violently robbing our places of business terrorizes our communities and is a serious federal offense with significant consequences." He praised the contributions of law enforcement agencies in the investigation and emphasized a continued dedication to combating gun violence.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone expressed determination to tackle crime in the community, stating, "Our Office has strived to take every available action to combat violent repeat offenders from wreaking havoc in our communities." He applauded local and federal partnerships in bringing Coppage to justice.
Christopher Rogers, ATF’s Acting Special Agent in Charge, stated, "A firearm in the hands of a prohibited individual is illegal and extremely dangerous," reaffirming the commitment to ensuring public safety.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's documentation on case No. 5:24-CR-84-BO-RJ provides additional details about the proceedings.
