North Carolina man sentenced to 32 years for dollar store robberies

By Christen Smith

A Dollar General store in Graysville, Tennessee. It was not one of the locations targeted during the 2015 robbery spree. (Photo:GaryBolden/RheaReview)
As part of a federal initiative to combat gun crime, a North Carolina man will spend 32 years in prison for his role in a dollar store robbery spree across three counties near the state’s eastern border in early 2015.
Thomas Wayne Godard, 25, will serve five years of supervised release upon completing his prison term after pleading guilty in August to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.
U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon, Jr. said criminals like Godard and his accomplices, Keenan Dequez Bond and Tremaine Anderson, exemplify why the agency remains so focused on prosecuting violent crime.
“Godard robbed businesses and endangered employees and customers in a way that puts fear in all our hearts.  It could have been anyone … working or shopping in these businesses and facing those violent criminal acts and the firearms being brandished,” he said in a Department of Justice news release Wednesday.  “This is why we will continue to pursue violent criminals and those who illegally possess and use firearms in our effort to reduce and

Source: Guns.com