Man who robbed stores gets arrested after police found his selfies on social media
A man from the U.S. who robbed stores at gunpoint was arrested by the authorities after they found his selfies on social media. He was wearing the same bandana and holding the same gun he used in the crime.
27-year-old man Hasahn Riyardt Flowe was sentenced to 117 months, or over nine years, after committing two armed robberies in 2023, announced by Dena J. King, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, on July 16.
Detailing the incidents, Flowe’s robbery first took place on Jan. 22, 2023, at Sam’s Mart at Beatties Ford Road around 6:17 p.m. where he threatened the store employee identified as “A.R.” with a pistol. He concealed his identity by wearing a red bandana on the lower part of his face.
As per the local authorities' press release, the court documents stated that Flowe told the employee that he had just gotten out of prison and that she should keep quiet or he would shoot her while pointing his gun. He demanded to give him the money from the register to which the woman complied. Flowe fled the scene after taking the money.
The second incident happened on Feb. 8, 2023, at the 7-Eleven at Statesville Road in Charlotte at 6:29 p.m. where he used the same red bandana and the same pistol from the previous robbery. The only person in the store was the employee, identified as T.R., who fled the scene using the back door after seeing the gun.
Flowe tried to open the cash drawer but failed, so he just grabbed the purse the employee left behind and left the store.
During the investigation, the police were able to locate Flowe a week later after he posted his selfies on his social media account, where he was seen wearing the same accessory and holding the same gun used in the robbery.
He was arrested on Feb. 15, 2023, and the police were able to recover the firearm used in the crimes.
Flowe pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence on Oct. 19, 2023. He is currently being held in federal custody before transferring to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.