Federal Indictments Charge 11 Durham Residents With Hobbs Robbery Conspiracy And Other Offenses

Minority Business Owners Targeted

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Eleven individuals from Durham were indicted May 3, 2019, on federal charges relating to a series of violent robberies, announced Matthew G.T. Martin, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina and John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina.

The defendants are charged in an indictment alleging that between October 18, 2015 and January 29, 2016, in Durham, Guilford, and Orange Counties, they conspired to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, that is, robbery by means of actual or threatened force, violence, and fear. The conspiracy allegedly targeted the personal residences of Middle-Eastern and Asian business owners to facilitate the theft of the business proceeds believed to be stored at their respective homes. Owners of the following businesses were targeted: Tobacco World in Durham, North Carolina; T-Nails Salon in Durham, North Carolina; Pink Nails in Hillsborough, North Carolina; Lakhani Jewelers in Durham, North Carolina; Biswas Tobacco in Durham, North Carolina; and China Fuji in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The defendants are:

• SAVIAN JACOBY TURRENTINE, age 26, of Durham

• DEION TYRELL LILES, age 23, of Durham

• ERVIN MONTEZ ALSTON, age 26, of Durham

• JERMAUCIYAE RYSUAN ABRAM, age 21, of Durham

• KEVIN JAMIE JENAVOUS MALONE, age 24, of Durham

• TERRELL LEE MCLAMB, age 26, of Durham

• HOWARD FREEMAN EARL, JR., age 24, of Durham

• MARKEY ANTONIO GOLDSTON, age 29, of Durham

• BARRY DION HOLT, age 26, of Durham

• JOSHUA QUINTON JONES, age 23, of Durham

• ANTHONY LATARIO JAMES, age 23, of Durham

In addition to the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces one or more individual charges of Hobbs Act Robbery and one or more individual charges of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Each defendant convicted of a Hobbs Act robbery or conspiracy charge faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and not more than 3 years supervised release. Each defendant convicted of a brandishing a firearm charge faces a minimum sentence of 7 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and not more than 7 years supervised release.

“These organized criminals systematically terrorized and preyed upon minority business owners and their families,” said United States Attorney Martin. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing violent crime and protecting the people of the Middle District by identifying and prosecuting violent offenders like these.”

"The defendants committed violent robberies across the community which instilled fear in the hearts of innocent people. These indictments send a clear message, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to make sure those bringing violence to our streets are held accountable." said SAC Strong.

One of the conspirators, MARKEY ANTONIO GOLDSTON, is also charged in a separate two-count indictment with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the drug charge, GOLDSTON faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both, and not less than 3 years supervised release. If convicted of the firearm charge, GOLDSTON faces a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, and not more than 3 years supervised release.

The charges contained in the indictments are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Durham County

Sheriff’s Office, the Durham Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Special Operations & Intelligence Unit, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry M. Meinecke of the United States Attorney’s Office.