Man Who Set Fire To Convenience Stores Then Stole Cash From ATMs Convicted

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A Temple Hills man on trial for helping set fires at 7-Eleven convenience stores so the group could steal cash in ATMs in the stores has been convicted.

Following a five-day trial, a federal jury found Stephen Kennedy, 33, guilty of conspiracy to commit arson, arson affecting interstate commerce, commercial robbery, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, carrying and explosive device during the commission of a felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the 8-count superseding indictment, from at least January 2021 to January 2022, Kennedy and others conspired to commit arsons at 7-Eleven convenience stores so that they could later steal cash contained in ATMs in the stores. The indictment stated that Kennedy and Kelly traveled to 7-Eleven locations while they were open for business and deployed explosive devices to set fire to the buildings, and on at least one occasion, demanded the contents of the cash register. The defendants burned the stores to force them to close and shut off power to the security cameras, which allowed them to return to the unguarded locations to burglarize the ATMs. This resulted in losses to the ATM company of at least $90,000. To conceal the evidence of their crimes, one of Kennedy’s co-conspirators made false police reports regarding stolen license plates.

Kennedy faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the arson conspiracy and for arson affecting interstate commerce; a maximum of 20 years in prison for commercial robbery; a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and up to life in federal prison for using a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence; a 10-year sentence for carrying an explosive during the commission of another federal felony; and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

Kennedy's sentencing hearing has been set for May 30.