Man Convicted of Hope Mills and Fayetteville Robberies

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that, EDWARD MOORE, JR., of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was convicted in federal court following a two-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  MOORE was convicted of interference with commerce by robbery, 2-counts of armed bank robbery, 3-counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and 4-counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon.

The jury heard evidence that MOORE robbed the One Main Financial Bank in Fayetteville and a Bank of America in Hope Mills twice.  During each of the robberies MOORE fired a shot into the ceiling and pointed the firearm at customers and employees and stole approximately $64,000.

MOORE faces a minimum sentence of 75 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment at his sentencing date to be determined.

The prosecution of MOORE is part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.  This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

Investigation of this enforcement operation was conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department, the Hope Mills Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Assistant United States Attorneys Barbara Kocher and Gabriel Diaz represented the government.