A Charlotte man, 49-year-old Robert Lee Barringer, received a hefty federal prison sentence for his role in the armed robbery of a local business involved in adult arcade games. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina declared on Monday that Barringer would serve 412 months behind bars, followed by a supervised release for five years. This decision comes after a dramatic incident in July 2021 that left three people with gunshot wounds and the Fish House North robbed of $3,500.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers answered a shooting and robbery call on the evening of July 26, 2021. They found three victims - an employee, his wife, and a security guard - at the scene, all of whom had sustained serious injuries from gunshot wounds. The investigation pointed to Barringer as the assailant, a disgruntled former employee seeking revenge roughly one month after being fired. After cornering the victims and demanding money, Barringer fled the scene, leaving a trail of violence and fear.
Barringer’s arrest occurred two days after the robbery at a Charlotte hotel. The subsequent trial concluded with convictions for interference with commerce by robbery, and use, carry, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Barringer's extensive criminal history, including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon, heavily influenced the court's decision, ensuring that Barringer, now barred from firearms, will spend a significant portion of his life in prison.
The case was part of the national initiative Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative effort to decrease violent crime and improve community safety. In a statement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King commended the FBI and CMPD for their meticulous work on the Barringer case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hess and Timothy Sielaff were acknowledged for their role in the prosecution of the case, which aligns with the Department's strengthened violent crime reduction strategy announced in May 2021.
