A Charlotte man has been sentenced to more than 32 years in federal prison for a series of armed robberies, according to an announcement by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Andrew Marquis Jackson, 33, received a sentence of 394 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He was previously convicted at trial on several charges, including three counts each of Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. He was also found guilty on two counts of possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The case involved cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. Reid Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
Court documents and trial evidence showed that Jackson, along with co-conspirators Joshua Jon’tavious Blount and Messiah Lynn Blair, carried out at least three armed robberies at businesses in Charlotte. The first incident occurred on January 24, 2023, at a Dunkin Donuts on Beatties Ford Road. According to testimony, Jackson demanded cash from the register before firing a shot into the ceiling. Blair searched for money in the back office while Jackson held an employee at gunpoint. Blount acted as the getaway driver.
Three days later, on January 27, 2023, Jackson robbed a 7-Eleven store on Brookshire Blvd. Evidence presented at trial indicated that he fired into the ceiling upon entering and then pointed his weapon at an employee while demanding money from the register. Blount was present inside the store pretending to be a customer.
The third robbery took place on February 1, 2023, at a Family Dollar store on Beatties Ford Road. Blount entered first to survey the scene before Jackson and Blair came in armed with firearms. They pointed their guns at an employee behind the counter and demanded money from both the register and safe before fleeing with cash.
Jackson remains in federal custody pending transfer to a designated facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson expressed appreciation for investigative work done by both the FBI and CMPD related to this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly is prosecuting.
