Blackville Dollar General robbery deemed inside job

The Blackville Police Department (BPD) found the Dec. 28, 2022 Dollar General robbery to be an inside job and have arrested all individuals involved including a clerk and former employee.

Katovius Raheem Sincino, 26, of Blackville, was charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm in a violent crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to BPD, Sincino entered the store around 9:30 p.m. wearing a black leather jacket and khaki pants. He then pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at the clerk, Curtis Wayne Gilyard Jr., who was later found to be a part of the crime.

“The employee and the other two conspired to rob the Dollar General while the employee was working. He was part of the plan,” said BPD Lieutenant Brian Gray.

Gilyard, 25, of Blackville, was charged with robbery and criminal conspiracy.

While inside, Sincino took money from the drawer and the safe.

Also involved was former Blackville Dollar General employee Kyriek Dei’jon Kearse, 25 of Blackville. Kearse was charged with robbery and criminal conspiracy.

A taskforce of BPD officers were assigned to look for these individuals after all three arrest warrants were obtained.

Gilyard and Kearse were arrested on the afternoon of January 3 by BPD at the Hampton Apartments in Blackville.

Sincino turned himself in the next day on January 4.

“He actually came to the police station and turned himself in,” said BPD Captain Lee Huggins.

All individuals have been released to Barnwell County Detention Center.

BPD was unable to disclose any further details on the investigation.

Hours before this robbery took place, the Dollar General in Hilda was robbed around 5 p.m. A gun was not brandished at the Hilda location and the robber did not steal any items as other customers began entering the store.

The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the Hilda robbery, and believes both incidents may be related.