A Forsyth County man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of armed robberies in various counties in North Carolina, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina.
Byron Clay Scott, aged 33, received his sentence from United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder, who presides over the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Scott was sentenced to 240 months for the robberies, in addition to three years of post-release supervision. A further 24 months were added to his sentence for committing these crimes while he was under post-release supervision for another robbery in Forsyth County back in 2013. Scott is also required to pay restitution amounting to $21,005.38 and has to forfeit a 9mm handgun.
The court records revealed Scott, along with other unidentified individuals, conducted at least ten armed robberies at Dollar General and Family Dollar Stores. These incidents occurred between November 2023 and January 2024 in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, and Reidsville. Surveillance footage from the stores showed the robbers wearing Halloween masks, gloves, and dark clothing, typically striking at night near closing time. Scott was apprehended on January 15, 2024, following a robbery call. Evidence found in his vehicle and data from electronic tracking and Scott's phone search history connected him to the crimes.
Scott entered a guilty plea on January 6, 2025, for five counts of interference with commerce by robbery, breaching 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a).
The investigation involved the Winston-Salem Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, Greensboro Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI's Piedmont Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham led the prosecution.
The FBI's Safe Streets Violent Crime Initiative, operational since 1992, coordinated this investigation. This program consolidates resources from various law enforcement bodies and focuses primarily on street gang and drug-related violence through strategic investigations and prosecutions.