Jamaris Ladell Smith, a 36-year-old resident of Charlotte, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing a series of armed robberies. This announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also participated in the announcement.
Court documents reveal that Smith conducted six armed robberies over two days. On January 17, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., he entered Sam’s Mart on Sharon Road, wearing distinctive clothing including a denim jacket with a fake fur collar and a red and blue knit cap. Smith brandished a handgun at the store clerk, demanded cash, and warned her not to resist.
The following day at around 3:30 p.m., Smith robbed Walgreens on E WT Harris Blvd. He wore a blue denim jacket inscribed with “Empty Promises” and threatened the clerk with a handgun until she opened the register.
Smith continued his spree later that evening at CVS on The Plaza. He used similar tactics to rob the store after threatening an employee.
At approximately 11:00 p.m., Smith targeted Circle K on Randolph Road. Again donning his recognizable attire, he pointed a gun at the clerk and stole cash from the register.
On January 19, at about 1:20 a.m., Smith held up another store—7-Eleven on Old Concord Road—using his typical approach to intimidate the clerk into handing over money.
Hours later at Burger King on Sharon Road, Smith forced an employee into an office to access cash registers before fleeing in an SUV.
Smith was apprehended after investigators identified him from surveillance footage and found clothing items linked to the robberies at his residence. A firearm used during these crimes was discovered in his vehicle.
Smith pleaded guilty on February 16, 2024, to six counts of Hobbs Act robberies and brandishing a firearm related to violent crime. He remains in custody awaiting transfer to a federal facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In delivering Smith’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. emphasized promoting respect for law enforcement and public safety as primary considerations.
The case was investigated by both the FBI and CMPD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington from Charlotte’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
