'GUILTY' - A Federal Jury Convicts a Repeat Criminal of Hobbs Act and Use of Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime

Greenville, MS - United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that Carleone Pate, Jr., 21, of Lexington, Holmes County, Mississippi was convicted of Hobbs Act Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime. Pate had recently been released from the Mississippi Department of Corrections after serving a three-year prison sentence for two aggravated assault convictions committed in August 2022 in DeSoto County. He was on bail at the time of the robbery for which he stood trial.

According to court documents, on the morning of January 19, 2023, in the small Black Hawk community of Carroll County, Mississippi, a masked gunman entered the Dollar General located at the intersection of Highways 430 and 17 and demanded the money from the cash register and safe. The swift response from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office led to the search and eventual arrest of the defendant. He was found guilty on both counts in addition to the jury finding that he brandished the firearm during the robbery. He will be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown on a future date.

The evidence presented at trial confirmed that the defendant was successfully identified through the thorough investigative work of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office, working with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and surrounding law enforcement agencies, worked diligently to limit the defendant's escape routes. After perimeter checkpoints were established, Pate was arrested in the woods of northern Holmes County by an off-duty game warden, assisted by a maintenance technician with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

U.S. Attorney Leary stated, "This case would not have been possible absent the professional work of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and fellow law enforcement agencies. Federal involvement was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to work with state and local law enforcement to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney's Office is honored to work with such brave and professional officers who work tirelessly to protect our communities. Well done!"

Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker said, "The Black Hawk Dollar General Store is a vital part of our community. It serves our citizens, and they should be able to shop there without fear of robbery. I am thankful to the Lord for His protection and for justice being served. We are grateful to our deputies, to all of the various law enforcement agencies who participated in Pate's apprehension, and certainly to the US Attorney's Office for their relentless determination in prosecuting this case. Last but not least, I extend our great appreciation to the citizens who served as jurors during this trial, their commitment to fairness and their thoroughness resulted in a just verdict."

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Stringfellow, Kaylon McCou, Clyde McGee, IV and Bob Norman.