Fired Rhode Island man sentenced after robbing former Dartmouth employer, Fall River restaurant

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 41-year-old man pled guilty and was sentenced before the Honorable Raffi Yessayan in the Fall River Superior Court.

Muhammed Sheikh of Woonsocket, RI to serve 2 years to the House of Correction followed by 3 years of supervised probation for assaulting and robbing his former employer.  The Commonwealth requested a State Prison sentence of 3 to 5 years. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Lopes.

On July 18, 2025, Sheikh went to the King Smoke Shop at 245 State Road in Dartmouth where he was a previous employee who had recently been terminated.  Upon arrival, Sheikh engaged in a heated verbal argument with the employee working at the time.  The defendant demanded to speak to the individual who fired him.  The employee contacted the manager on his cell phone and handed the phone to Sheikh.  He grew angrier during the call and at the conclusion of the call, threw the cell phone at the employee and broke the cell phone.  Sheikh also threw the cash register to the ground before exiting to wait in his vehicle.  Once the manager arrived at the Smoke Shop, the defendant followed him back into the business.  Sheikh began threatening to kill the employee and manager, took out a knife and made a lunging motion in their direction.  The defendant stormed out after this confrontation and stole the cash register from the Shop. 

Sheikh then drove to the Kun Kabob and Curry restaurant in Fall River.  That restaurant is owned by the same family as the King Smoke Shop.  The defendant entered the restaurant, grabbed the cash register, and fled. 

Sheikh was located by police in Rhode Island a few hours later with both cash registers located in his vehicle.  The defendant indicated he was angry because he was owed money and felt he was unfairly terminated.  He appeared to be under the influence.