A Roanoke Rapids man who pleaded guilty to three counts of a seven-count federal indictment which charged him with armed robberies in Weldon and Roanoke Rapids is set for sentencing in Raleigh on February 10.
Documents filed in the federal court system show Joshua Jermaine Durante was found competent to proceed in October and was originally scheduled for sentencing this month.
In count two, which is related to the September 17, 2018 robbery of Family Dollar in Weldon, Durante pleaded guilty to carrying and using a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence.
In count three, he pleaded guilty to the robbery of Presto on September 26, 2018.
In count 4, he pleaded guilty to carrying, using and discharging a weapon at Presto on September 26, 2018. A store employee was shot in that heist.
In his detention hearing in June, United States Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Swank found evidence of Durante’s involvement in gang activities.
At the time she ruled that by a preponderance of evidence there were no conditions or combination of conditions that would reasonably assure this appearance.
That evidence included a lengthy period of incarceration, prior criminal history, participation in criminal activity while on supervision or release, history of violent or assaultive behavior and evidence of flight.
Swank also based her decision on detention on the nature and circumstances of his offenses and noncompliance with prior supervision.
An undisclosed amount of money was taken in the Weldon heist, police said at the time.
During the Presto robbery one of the suspects jumped the counter while the other suspect ran to the back and went behind the counter.
The suspects demanded the clerks open the safe at which time the clerks advised they did not have access to the safe.
One of the suspects struck the employee in the head with a handgun. The suspects proceeded to take money and cigarettes.
When the suspects were exiting the store, one returned back to the counter and shot the employee who had initially been struck in the head with the weapon.
A second person charged in the heists — Temon Seward — was prosecuted through the state system and was sentenced on July 29. He was released on December 9. His parole term expires on December 9 of this year.
He was sentenced on a consolidated commitment which was combined with an October 2, 2018 armed robbery count.
