DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - A Basset man pleaded guilty to committing an armed robbery during a 2014 drug deal in federal court on Tuesday.
Christopher L. Bowers, 23, pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia to one count of robbery, as a principal and aider and abettor. At sentencing, he faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
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"We are thankful this violent robbery didn't end in a much more tragic way," said United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. in a press release. "So often, the mixture of drugs and guns has deadly consequences. We will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to slow the tide of violence and drug trafficking in our communities."
According to evidence presented at Tuesday's hearing, in the early morning hours of December 10-11 2014, Bowers and an associate, Christopher Stokes, went to a home in Henry County to buy pills. When Stokes and Bowers arrived, a disagreement arose regarding the price of the drugs. At that time, Bowers pulled out a gun and threatened one of the victims.
Stokes, who was not initially armed, seized a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol belonging to one of the home's residents, confronted a second victim, demanded money and then fired the pistol into the wall. Bowers and Stokes then fled with stolen pills, the Smith & Wesson pistol and about $400 in cash.
The investigation of the case was conducted by Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant United States Attorney Anthony P. Giorno and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kari K. Munro prosecuted the case for the United States.