Charlotte Man Who Robbed A Convenience Store At Gunpoint Is Sentenced To More Than Nine Years In Prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A Charlotte man who robbed a convenience store at gunpoint was sentenced to 117 months in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Hasahn Riyardt Flowe, 27, was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release following his term of incarceration.

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 court documents and today's court proceedings, on January 22, 2023, at 6:17 p.m., Flowe entered the Sam's Mart located at 2630 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte. Flowe had the lower part of his face concealed with a red bandana and was armed with a pistol. At the time, the only other person inside the store was a Sam's Mart employee, identified in court documents as A.R. Upon entering the store, Flowe pointed the pistol at A.R. and demanded money from the register. Court records show that Flowe told A.R. that he had just gotten out of prison and ordered her to shut up or he would shoot her. A.R. opened the register and began to remove the money. Flowe took the money and fled the scene.

Photo # 1- Jan. 22, 2023 - Armed robbery of Sam's Mart on Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte - The defendant is pointing a firearm at a store employee as she hands him money from the register.

According to court records, on February 8, 2023, at 6:29 p.m., Flowe entered the 7-Eleven located at 4255 Statesville Road in Charlotte. Flowe had the lower part of his face concealed with the same red bandana and was armed with the same pistol as the previous robbery. The only other person present was a 7-Eleven employee, identified as T.R. Flowe displayed his pistol and demanded money from T.R. T.R., seeing the pistol, ran to the rear of the store and exited out of a back door.

Photo #2 - Feb. 8, 2023 - Attempted armed robbery of 7-11 in Charlotte - The defendant is pointing a firearm at a store employee as she's fleeing the store.

According to court documents and today's sentencing hearing, after the employee fled, Flowe ran behind the counter, found the drawer for the register, pulled it out, and dropped it on the floor. As that was happening, another customer walked in the store. Flowe raised his pistol and pointed it at the customer, who then backed out into the parking lot. Unable to get into the cash drawer, Flowe grabbed T.R.'s purse and fled the store.

Photo #3 - Feb. 8, 2023 - Attempted armed robbery of 7-11 in Charlotte - The defendant is pointing a firearm at a customer who walked into the store.

During the investigation, court records show that law enforcement found photographs posted on Flowe's public social media profile of him wearing the red bandana he wore during the robbery and attempted robbery and posing with the firearm Flowe used during both crimes.

Photo #4 - The defendant posted photos on social media with the firearm he used in each crime.

Flowe was arrested on February 15, 2023. At the time of the arrest, law enforcement recovered the firearm Flowe had used to commit both crimes.

On October 19, 2023, Flowe pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today's announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte prosecuted 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.