Why Firing a Shot During a Robbery Makes Charges Worse in Federal Court
If the authorities have accused you of firing a weapon during a robbery in North Carolina, you face charges that are significantly more severe than if you had simply brandished the firearm without discharging it. Why is this the case? What are some potential strategies to the charge of “discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence?” This is a conversation you might want to have with an experienced theft defense lawyer in North Carolina.
Man Gets 10 Years in Prison for Firing a Shot in the Air During North Carolina Bank Robbery
To get a sense of how serious this offense can be, consider a recent case in North Carolina: On March 6th, 2026, The News & Observer reported that a federal judge had sentenced a convicted bank robber to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors made the case that the man entered a bank in Raleigh wearing a mask before shooting a single round “toward the bank manager’s office” and holding two tellers at gunpoint. Shortly after he left with a backpack full of cash (and a GPS tracker), he was arrested by police officers.
The defendant eventually pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, a federal charge that carries a 10-year minimum prison sentence. He also pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and possession of a stolen firearm, for which he received an additional five-year sentence.
What if You Simply Brandish a Firearm Without Firing It?
If this man had simply brandished a firearm without discharging it, he likely would have received a lower sentence. This is because under federal law, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime carries a minimum penalty of seven years. This is lower than the mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years for discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
All these offenses are punished under federal law in Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).
- If you possess a firearm during a crime of violence (like robbery) or a drug trafficking offense, the penalty is a mandatory minimum of five years consecutive to any other time.
- For brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime, it’s seven years consecutive to any other sentence.
- Finally, for discharging a weapon, it’s ten years, again at the very least.
For all of these crimes though, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. The 5, 7, and 10 years numbers are just the minimums.
Can a Criminal Defense Attorney in North Carolina Help Me?
If you face charges such as “discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence,” consider speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney in North Carolina. This crime carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. This is a federal crime, and you may also face various state charges for this alleged offense. Consider speaking about your defense strategy in more detail with The Pritchard Firm today.
Sources:
newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article314955141.html
congress.gov/crs_external_products/LSB/HTML/LSB11293.web.html