Greenville men charged in rash of armed robberies

Greenville police said that officers investigating the robberies started conducting surveillance and patrols around cellular stores along Greenville Boulevard Tuesday. Around 9 p.m., the U.S. Cellular store at 204 Southwest Greenville Blvd. was robbed.

Police and Pitt County sheriff's deputies stopped a suspect vehicle and arrested two men. Police said a search of the Landing Apartment Complex led to a third arrest and turned up an undisclosed amount of cash and a revolver believed to be used in previous robberies.

Marquail Earl Mouring, 21, Julius Deshawn Hobbs, 21, both of 708 McDowell St., and James Arthur Acklin Jr., 19, of 2821 Best Road, each face five counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Police said they are continuing to investigate a series of robberies at U.S. Cellular stores and Kangaroo convenience stores and expect to file more charges.

Police said Mouring and Acklin were out on bond awaiting trial in the armed robbery of the Wingate Hotel, on South Memorial Drive, on Nov. 11, 2010.

Mouring is also serving 18 months' probation for an August 2010 conviction for misdemeanor larceny, according to state Department of Correction records. He also served probation for 2006 convictions for simple assault and disturbing a student at school.