A Charlotte man with a past conviction for federal armed bank robbery has been sentenced to over five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, officials said Thursday. Jamell Tremaine Robinson, 42, will serve a 66-month sentence followed by two years of supervised release, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Dena J. King.
The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that on the night of October 13, 2021, Robinson was apprehended after leading police on a high-speed chase that ended with his vehicle crashing off Interstate 40. A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper found a loaded handgun in the wrecked vehicle. Court records later revealed that Robinson, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition.
During the case investigation, further details emerged, revealing that not only was a handgun present, but an AR-556 rifle along with additional ammunition was found in the vehicle's trunk. This discovery ultimately contributed to the charges against Robinson, who had already been barred from firearm possession due to his previous conviction for armed bank robbery.
Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims, of the ATF's Charlotte Field Division and Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were among the officials joining U.S. Attorney King in the announcement. Robinson had entered a guilty plea on July 21, 2022, and has been in federal custody since his conviction, pending transfer to a federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The case was probed by both the ATF and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, with prosecution handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wiseman, a state prosecutor deputized to serve in both federal and state courts. This collaboration reflects the partnership between the 26th Prosecutorial District and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte.
