CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Mt. Holly man pleaded guilty to federal charges after he threatened people at a pizza restaurant in June 2024 because of their race, color, religion, and national origin.

Maurice Hopkins, 32, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of "interference with federally protected activities," a civil rights violation. The case was prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

Hopkins threatened eight people at Zambies Pizza on North Davidson in Charlotte on June 8, 2024. He harassed the victims at the restaurant, calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, and telling them to "go back to their country," according to court records. The victims were of Indian origin, according to a police affidavit.

Hopkins left the restaurant and

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