
A New York man has been given a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to armed robbery and brandishing a firearm at a North Carolina vape shop. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that Mekhi Marquise Hooi, 20, admitted to the Hobbs Act Robbery linked to an incident that occurred at Lowest Price Tobacco and Vape in Knightdale.
The robbery took place on September 19, 2024, when Hooi, threatened a clerk with a 9mm gun, demanding cash and tobacco products. During the crime, he is reported to have menaced the clerk with the possibility of shooting if they did not comply quickly. Following the incident, Hooi fled but was eventually arrested in New York City, and extradited to North Carolina.
U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III handed down the sentence, while the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Knightdale Police Department. Declaration of the sentencing was made by Michael F. Easley, Jr., the U.S. Attorney overseeing the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Loeser led the prosecution against Hooi, ensuring that the details of the case were clearly presented, leading to the defendant's guilty plea. "The cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners to hold Mr. Hooi accountable exemplify the commitment to keeping our communities safe," said a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, according to the press release.