Charlotte Man Pleads Guilty To Brandishing AR-15 Rifle During Restaurant Robbery

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Jermond Santa Lowery, Jr., 29, of Charlotte, appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to brandishing an AR-15 rifle during a restaurant robbery, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement.

According to plea documents and court proceedings, on October 31, 2023, Lowery entered a Waffle House restaurant located in Charlotte. Upon entering the restaurant, Lowery brandished an AR-15 rifle and told the employees, "You better get back." As the employees began to flee out of the restaurant's back door, Lowery ordered them to come back and open the register. He also threatened the employees, telling them, "I'll kill you right now." Lowery then removed the cash register from the restaurant and left. Law enforcement arrested Lowery on November 1, 2023.

Lowery pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a minimum penalty of seven years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Lowery remains in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set.

The FBI and CMPD investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shavonn Bennette of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.