Deadly Interstate Kidnapping and Robbery Case Involving Casino Leads to Indictments

Overview of the Crime

Federal prosecutors have indicted three individuals from South Carolina for their involvement in a fatal interstate kidnapping and robbery that originated at a casino in North Carolina and ended with a homicide in another state.

A federal grand jury in Greenville has issued a ten-count indictment against 33-year-old E.M.R., 42-year-old J.T.L., and 19-year-old K.L.C. The accusations include robbery affecting interstate commerce, kidnapping resulting in death, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and obstruction of justice.

Deceptive Luring and the Crime

In June 2025, Mequez Bernard Geer, a 34-year-old from Anderson, South Carolina, was tricked into visiting a North Carolina casino under the pretense of a date meeting with one of the accused. Instead of a genuine encounter, he became the target of a planned robbery.

The victim traveled expecting a date but was instead robbed of cash, jewelry, a cellphone, and a rented car. The perpetrators were armed and concealed their identities with gloves and masks. Upon arrival, E.M.R. allegedly convinced the victim to leave the casino premises.

The group then made a stop at a convenience store before traveling to another site where more conspirators joined. Approximately 12 miles into Sylva, North Carolina, the victim was robbed again and fatally shot.

Attempted Evidence Destruction and Ongoing Investigation

Authorities later found the victim’s body back in South Carolina, alongside a burning rental vehicle in a wooded area of Spartanburg County, indicating efforts to eliminate evidence and hinder identification.

Federal and local law enforcement continue to investigate as the case proceeds through the justice system.

U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling highlighted the seriousness of the case, stating that the defendants’ actions were part of a “dark and devious scheme” crossing state lines, resulting in death. He extended condolences to the victim’s family and stressed that if found guilty, the accused face severe prison terms due to the gravity of charges such as kidnapping resulting in death, a top-tier federal crime.