Charlotte Man To Federal Prison For Armed Robbery Of Two Stores

Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 6:00 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

CHARLOTTE, NC.- On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Thomas Lagene Franklin, 56, of Charlotte, North Carolina, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for his previously guilty pleas for the armed robbery of two 24-hour convenience stores.

     U.S. Attorney Dena J. King reported that Franklin previously appeared in U.S. District Court on February 7, 2024, and pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery; and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

According To Charging Documents

     According to documents filed with the court, on August 7, 2022, at around 3:30 a.m., a motor vehicle pulled alongside a man who was walking toward his hotel room in Charlotte, North Carolina. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Franklin, demanded money from the man. When the man told him he had no money, Franklin fired multiple gunshots at the man, striking him in the leg before driving away.

     On August 9, 2022, just around 1:45 a.m., Franklin entered and robbed at gunpoint the Circle K convenience store located at 2833 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. He entered the store wearing a bucket-style fishing hat, clear safety glasses, and a black surgical mask. Franklin, posing as a customer, brought items to the counter for purchase and even gave money to the cashier to pay for the items. When the cashier opened the register, Franklin pulled out a small silver semi-automatic handgun from his pocket, pointed it at the cashier, and demanded money from the register. The cashier complied, and Franklin fled the store with the money.

     Later that same day, shortly around 6:50 a.m., Franklin entered the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 8315 Steele Creek Road in Charlotte, dressed the same way, and brought items to the counter. When the cashier opened the register, Franklin again pulled out a small silver semi-automatic handgun and demanded money. The cashier complied and gave Franklin the cash from the register, and then Franklin fled the store.

     The following day, August 10, 2022, Franklin was apprehended by members of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. During the arrest, Police Officers recovered the small silver semi-automatic handgun that was used in the August 9, 2022, armed robberies and the August 7, 2022, attempted robbery and shooting of the man.

     U.S. Attorney King commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case.