A North Carolina man faces serious charges after being indicted on federal civil rights and firearms violations. Maurice Hopkins, 31, is accused of threatening eight individuals using a firearm because of their race, color, religion, and national origin at a Charlotte restaurant, according to an indictment unsealed by the Western District of North Carolina.
The incident took place on June 8 at Zambies Pizza, where Hopkins allegedly used force to threaten the individuals because they were enjoying the restaurant's services. Per the indictment, the acts were also intended to intimidate the individuals from exercising their federally protected housing rights. The indictment includes three counts, with the first two related to civil rights offenses and the third to firearms charges. If convicted, Hopkins could face up to 10 years in prison for the civil rights charges and a mandatory minimum for the firearms offense.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office carried out the investigation of the case. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina, along with Trial Attorneys Daniel Grunert and Chloe Neely of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, made the announcement in connection with Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
As a reminder, the Justice Department notes that an indictment is simply an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A federal district court judge will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in determining the sentence should a conviction occur.
